Feeling all at sea, thanks to the yo-yoing in and out of Alert Levels?

In a climate of uncertainty, instability and rapid change, it is normal to feel anxious and stressed – so how can we identify our stressors and manage our emotional wellbeing for the benefit of ourselves and our staff? 

Gail Page from Positive Pathways shares her insights. 

Please note, this article is an updated version of an article originally posted in August 2020. 

In the face of COVID-19 we’ve all had to navigate uncharted waters, experience disruption, uncertainty and radically changing working conditions. This has created overwhelm, instability and uncertainty, and has severely tested our resilience and emotional wellbeing.

Being in business can be stressful and requires significant emotional and mental energy at the best of times. But when you add having to cope with the added pressures of the current climate into the mix, many business owners are struggling to keep going and the impact on their mental health, resilience and wellbeing is taking its toll. The key to wellbeing is psychological safety and being able to manage the unexpected well.

One of the biggest issues for most business owners seems to be a lack of choice around what is happening with their business and of not feeling in control. And as a business owner myself, I totally understand this.

When lockdown happened, I felt as if the rug had been pulled from underneath me. But, although it knocked me for a while, I decided to look at what I can control and that is, how I think, feel and behave.

Managing your state of mind puts you back in the driving seat and, in fact, this is vital to a healthy state of being – just as much as what you do physically to take care of yourself. 

Think about that saying, ‘You are what you eat’. I believe that you are what you think.

We know that our bodies need nutritious food to support our growth and give us enough energy to get through the day, but what we feed our minds affects both our physical and mental health. In fact, our mindset affects every aspect of our wellbeing.

Negative self-talk, negative beliefs and fearful thinking are like junk food for the mind. They stunt our personal growth. It’s about time we stopped feeding ourselves fearful thoughts that diminish us and instead, start feeding ourselves thoughts that uplift and inspire us. 

Some ways to do this include:

• Practice self-compassion. Be kind to yourself and others.
• Become aware of your self-talk and if it’s negative, flip it and choose positive self-talk.
• Cut yourself some slack and stop trying to be superman or wonder woman. Do the best that you can and celebrate small wins.
• Create a mental picture of how you want your business to become. What will you need to feel, think and do to make it happen?
• Make a list of the very worst that can happen. Then come up with a list of how you would deal with it. This releases you from the fear cycle and being in a state of heightened awareness.
• Who can you ask for advice, help, support in making this happen? Reach out to them.
• Look at how others are ‘pivoting’ their businesses.
• How you can utilise your existing skills differently?
• Contact your existing clients and ask what else you could do for them.

And, if you need help, give me a call and I’ll help you create a diet of positivity that won’t give you indigestion, but will nourish your soul and empower you to grow into the very best version of yourself.