Leading Through Change
Let's be honest, the COVID-19 pandemic has shook us all. It has changed the way we live our daily lives, changed the way we interact with others, changed the way we work, shop and socialize. It has flipped our worlds upside down and has given all of us the opportunity to look deep within ourselves to both figure out how to cope with the situation - and to really ask ourselves "who we are" and "what do we want".
We are all different and have a very different way of dealing with this pandemic. Some people are truly enjoying the solitude while others are struggling to find energy. Some are using the time to become grounded, doing house projects that are long overdue, or even personal and professional growth activities. Some are filling the time with binge watching TV, video chats and reading, while others are learning new recipes, crafting or getting a lot of sleep.
Perhaps you’ve got yourself together and have discovered the perfect quarantine routine, or maybe you can relate to one of these ladies...let's meet two women who are dealing with change in very different ways:
Productive Patricia
Meet Patricia. Patricia is highly motivated in general, and now that she has all of this extra time on her hands, she is a force to be reckoned with. She loves "to-do" lists and feels great when she is able to check things off the list. Patricia knows the importance of balance in her life and sees the quarantine as a time to focus on the things that she has been missing - like self-care, online classes for her job, and spending quiet time reading. Patricia also sees this time as a great opportunity to exercise more, cook more healthy meals and learn how to bake.
While on the surface, Patricia appears to be mastering this quarantine, deep down she is feeling overwhelmed with all of the possibilities and the extra time she has. She knows she should take advantage and "do" so that she can get ahead when life turns back to normal (whatever that new normal is), but she feels like she can't do enough to complete her list. While she is being very productive, the intense pressure she is putting on herself is becoming counterproductive and she is starting to feel it.
Patricia believes there has to be another way.
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Stuck Sienna
Meet Sienna. Sienna is highly motivated in general too, just like Patricia, but her energy comes from her relationships and interactions with the external world. She is struggling with the isolation and with the uncertainty that is around us. Sienna is doing what she needs to do for her job and her family, but no more, no less, as she really has no extra energy beyond that. Sienna is finding herself sleeping more than normal and her eating and work out routine have shifted to an unhealthy zone. Sienna is trying to give herself grace and space to cope with her lack of energy and emotions, but she is struggling on a daily basis and is feeling extremely stuck right now.
Sienna knows that she should be doing more during this time and taking advantage of the quarantine to get ahead in her career. She has a nice list of books to read, online classes to take and even a desire to reach out to some friends she's lost touch with - but she is struggling to take any action. She feels intense guilt about it too because when else will she have this kind of time and opportunity.
Sienna believes there has to be another way.
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There is another way!
Both Sienna and Patricia are facing strong feelings which are impacting their actions. While they are dealing with them in very different ways, they are both still struggling. They know that this isn't going to last forever, but their worlds will never be the same again. They both feel that they need a little support to get through this and to be their best selves on the other side.
We all need a little support from time to time. Coaching is a great way to overcome obstacles that are in front of us – whether they are external or internal. The benefits of coaching include:
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Greater ownership and responsibility
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Development of self-awareness and ability to navigate specific issues
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Establish and take action towards achieving goals with improved outcomes
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Become more self-reliant
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Gain more job and life satisfaction
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Communicate more effectively
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And more...
If you are ready to stop feeling the way you are feeling and ready to shift yourself in a new direction, then coaching is a great option for you. Sign-up for a FREE Coaching Session today.
Patricia and Sienna icons courtesy of https://icons8.com/icons/set/user-female-circle