Have you ever felt like everything was crumbling around you and you were experiencing a tsunami of change all at once?
Many of us have.
It is usually never a convenient time when these types of changes occur. Not to mention, change can be uncomfortable.
Depending on the severity of the change, it can have effects on our mental and physical health. Major change can also cause stress, worry, anxiety, depression, irritability, muscle tension, headaches, high blood pressure, etc. All of which, negatively affect us.
Despite these discomforts, we don’t get the opportunity to press a pause button in life. Our personal and professional obligations often force us to keep things moving.
Our personal concerns also do not magically disappear when we walk through the doors of our employers and begin our work days.
So what do we do?
If you are like most, you attempt to stuff those concerns into a “handle it later” compartment in the back of your mind, so that you can focus your time and attention on work.
For others, it’s not quite as easy to stuff those concerns. This person finds it difficult to stay focused and productive. It oftentimes begins to reflect in their behavioral patterns. Colleagues may begin to notice. The person may begin to isolate themselves and both their work ethic and attendance may begin to decline. They may also become more short-tempered than normal. If this is not common behavior for this person more than likely they are dealing with something in their personal life and may need assistance.
As an Benefits Professional with Leadership and Counseling degrees, I’d like to offer a word of encouragement and a few tips in case the person I described above is you.
- Breathe. Literally, stop what you are doing and take a deep breath. Exhale. Listen…..it’s important that you be patient with yourself during this time. Despite the rising uncertainties and demands that might be surrounding you, don’t beat yourself up because it seems like you can’t “get it together”. It’s okay to feel and important to know that everyone experiences and responds to life’s challenges differently.
- Seek Assistance. It’s okay to seek assistance if you need it. In fact, it’s healthy. I know you have personal and professional obligations, but your emotional well-being is important. It affects your overall productivity in life. When you aren’t feeling your best, you can’t give your best. Your mental health is equally important as your physical health and should be treated as such. Reach out to a Counselor or Coach. If your employer has an EAP (Employer Assistance Program), reach out to them. This program generally provides employees with free assistance for personal or professional challenges. It’s also confidential.
- Remain Hopeful. The storms of life eventually subside. You may not see or understand now, but life challenges often provide us an opportunity to re-evaluate and rebuild our lives going forward.
“Keep going. You can do it”, is my mantra for both my professional and personal life. The reality is life challenges affect us all. When that time comes, we are all faced with two ways in which we can respond:
- We can stay paralyzed (stuck) from the initial shock and disappointment of those challenges and do nothing.
or
- We can look the challenges in the face and make a decision to embrace, accept and move forward in our life’s purpose REGARDLESS.
Although we ALL typically respond with initial shock and disappointment, in time, we should eventually embrace, accept and move forward. Should you need assistance in doing so, please feel to contact me.
Maybe this message is not for you. If you know someone else who may benefit, you’re welcomed to share.
Self care is necessary.
Respectfully,
Ms. Christy | Keep going. You can do it!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christy Chatman, (“Ms. Christy”) is an experienced Senior Manager of Employee Benefits, Inspirational Writer and Coach. She has several years of diversified HR experience in both the public and private sectors. A Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt with a Master’s degree in Management & Leadership and a Master’s degree in Human Services Counseling. She is known for her track record of great integrity, professionalism and proven ability to produce desired results. “Keep going. You can do it!” is her brand slogan and life motto that has proved instrumental in both her personal and professional life.
*For more by information visit: www.mschristy.com
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