To Move Forward You Have To Know How to Bounce Back
This has been an extremely rough and unusual week in the area in which I live in northeastern New Jersey. A few days back we experienced a highly unusual winter storm right in the heart of the autumn season. While the storm was surprise enough, the damage it left behind was something not seen in our area in the memory of most of us. The last week has been a period of individuals without electrical power for several days due to wires being down from branches of trees which could not take the weight of both wet snow and still being fully covered with leaves. And, while I personally was fortunate not to be in the grouping of those without electrical power, it certainly impacted many that I know and played havoc with schedules and activities.
The storm and its aftermath are a primary example of what can happen in life. We don’t always receive what we expect. Even if our intentions are good and we take what we consider to be all the right steps, circumstances out of our control can push us off track. When the unforeseen happens, it can be very frustrating and discouraging. Some find it hard to accept their fate and move forward. However, ultimately if we’re to achieve what we want, it is necessary we find a way to move on once the crisis at hand has been addressed.
One of the first things that can happen when something unpleasant happens is for us to lose our perspective. Focusing on the negative results of a current situation can easily lead one to be depressed. However, those that are able to push through the crisis and move on quickly from it are able to both focus on what they have done successfully in the past, and have the confidence to know how they want to proceed forward in the future. Those knowing how they want to proceed are acknowledging they are not locked into their present situation. There are answers to address the issue at hand and that given some time and forethought there are answers and approaches for moving on.
Those that are able to move forward get the support that they need. For some, that may mean receiving emotional or spiritual help from others. When we feel vulnerable and uncared for, it helps to have the support of those who know what we are going through. Whether that support comes from joining and participating in support groups, relying on family or friends or gaining support from your local place of worship, facing difficulties as part of a team as opposed to dwelling on them yourself also helps with the recovery process.
Yes, bad things happen to good people. However, in many instances even when bad things happen, good things may happen as part of the situation at hand. For example, in the recent power failures, I saw many a parent who had the opportunity to spend extra time with their children on days they normally would have been at work and the children were in school. Or the inability to use electrical based items such as a computer or television may have actually provided one time to read that book they had been meaning to read, or do that chore they have been putting off. The worst of items is just a small part of an overall bigger picture. In the long run, what we do as part of that larger picture is going to take the major share of our time and resource. But, when an interruption makes it difficult for us to address what we normally do, other items can come in and fill in the gap until we are back on track again.
Finally, once recovering from the initial impact, it is truly inspirational how resourceful many can be to still find ways to do that which is their main purpose in life. Perhaps it means finding an alternate way to address what they normally do. Or it means being able to focus on a part of an activity that has been put off, but now can come more to the forefront since it now can receive our focus. Using the time to set goals that can refocus one is also taking advantage of a situation that may stymie others but not those who look to move forward.
It does not have to be a storm that causes a sudden shift in one’s life. Losing a job or moving to a new location, are examples of changes that can impact an individual’s ability to move forward. And, of course there are several others that fit this model. No matter what happens in your life, whether expected or unexpected, if it knocks you off the path you are on or have been on, it is possible to move forward again. However, those who are able to move forward the most effectively are those who learn how to bounce back quickly when the unexpected strikes and realize it is only a short blip in their overall plans.
