Finding Opportunity in the Challenges
A powerful conversation was had this morning by those who joined us. While the world is constantly changing around us, we have named many feelings and reactions we feel and have. Naming these helps give us the power over circumstances that are challenging.
Often times though, our discussions don’t dive deeper than naming it. It is important to hold space for naming challenges, feelings and reactions AND it is important to have strategies to help us move from simply acknowledging and naming TO looking for opportunities for action or skill building.
We got to do that today. We started by asking everyone to text in word/s that we associate with the word “challenge.” Here was our word cloud, created by all of us on the call.
Note that the larger words were entered multiple times by participants.
Our facilitators then took us through how when we have an unmet need, it presents a challenge. When faced with challenges, or unmet needs, we can rely on several things.
Noticing our reaction of fight, flight and freeze
Using skills to move through the time of fight, flight and freeze
Developing coping skills to help our resilience
The graphic below illustrates these concepts.
The questions asked in each of our circles this morning were centered around skills we’ve gained from challenges we have already been through. Take a moment with your family or friends and ask these questions. The answers may surprise you and help you during this challenging time.
Reflect on a challenging time in your life. What was the situation, and how did you get through it?
What can you learn from this situation that you couldn’t learn anywhere else? OR What is something you’ve learned from a situation that you couldn’t learn anywhere else?
What are your strengths and how do you make the most of them?
What will you do now so that your future self will thank you later?