Here it is. The moment you have been waiting for is finally arriving and you are ready to take action…but…something comes up…from anywhere. You are now in the middle of a something unexpected that throws you, and everything you’ve planned, off center. You have been thrown a curveball and you don’t know what to do and you feel “stuck”. All your plans and all your goals have now taken a second, third or last place because of one unexpected event that came at the worst possible time needs to be dealt with. Is this a familiar occurrence? It is for me so I can presume you are no stranger to the feeling when unexpected life curveballs are thrown at you.
Life is full of unexpected incidents that can throw us off track and leave us feeling stuck, making us take longer than expected to recover. When this happens, it’s important to remember that we are not alone and that there are strategies we can use to get back in action. Let’s discuss ways that help coping with unexpected life curveballs.
Acknowledge Your Feelings
It is good to start by acknowledging your feelings. It’s okay to feel frustrated, angry, or disappointed. Allow yourself to grieve the loss of your plans and goals. It is also important to not allow your feelings lead you to lash out or spiral into negative thoughts.
Understand that emotions are not necessarily good or bad, but instead, these are signals that help us pay attention to those events that cause them. Your actions, however, can have negative consequences if not kept in check, restricting further your plans.
Take a Step Back
Once you’ve acknowledged your feelings, take a step back and assess the situation. What exactly happened? What are your options? It can be helpful to write down your thoughts and feelings to gain clarity. Some people like to journal but it is also good if you prefer to talk about your feelings in this particular situation.
Reframe Your Perspective
Try to reframe your perspective on the situation. Instead of seeing it as a setback, see it as an opportunity for growth and learning. Ask yourself what is the lesson to learn from this experience and how it can make you stronger and wiser.
Focus on What You Can Control
Instead of focusing on what you can’t control, focus on what you can. This could include things like your attitude, your effort, and your time management. Can your attitude be improved? Did you put the right effort? Were you realistic in managing your time adequately?
These questions help you assess the situation and how you can better perform next time by making necessary changes. Hopefully, it will give you a new perspective that will direct your actions in the future to get to your goals successfully.
Create a New Plan
Once you’ve processed your emotions and reframed your perspective, it’s time to create a new plan. Be realistic about what you can achieve in the time you have. Break your goals down into smaller, more manageable steps.
With your new knowledge, make a plan that is realistic to your situation and leave some breathing room for any curve balls that may be thrown at you in the future. This will prepare you much better in case of any unexpected events that may happen again.
Seek Support
Don’t be afraid to seek support from friends, family, or a therapist. Talking about your feelings and experiences can help you to process them and move forward.
Make sure you identify any areas where you need help and stay focused on getting the necessary help that will get you to where you want to be instead of allowing others to obstruct your path. Be proactive to communicate when someone deviates from delivering what you need.
7. Practice Self-Compassion
Above all, always give yourself grace. Be kind and compassionate to yourself. Remember that everyone experiences setbacks and that it’s okay to make mistakes. Forgive yourself for any mistakes you made and learn from them so that you can move on.
I hope these strategies help you cope if you’ve recently experienced n incident that threw you off course. If not, save them for a future use in case you experience something that feels like one of life’s curveballs.
About Dr. Landrau
Dr. Carmen W. Landrau is a professional speaker in Houston, TX. She works with organizations who want to retain women in the workforce and promote them to executive levels. Her programs about leadership and women’s empowerment, show professional women how to work on their mindset to obtain visibility and recognition so that they can become phenomenal leaders in their industry.
Invite Dr. Landrau to speak at your event via direct message to drlandrau.com/contact. Check her social media pages on LinkedIn, Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook.
