When your Plans Derail
Expect the unexpected and be able to handle it with ease. Here are some lessons from my recent experience.
This past week was a bummer. My son’s 8th birthday was on June 25, when he and the rest of our family tested positive for Covid. What a way to ring in another year, to have your birthday party canceled, your cake stashed in a freezer for later, and a piece-meal attempt at a kind of celebration where nobody was feeling up to doing much.
Ah, the unexpected plan derailment.
Disappointing and inconvenient, especially with family driving in from out of town and then having to deliver the news- NOT FUN. The question is- how do you handle it?
I have to admit, I panicked.
I worried about all the people I had unintentionally exposed, potentially uprooting THEIR life and plans! I was also aware of how many appointments I would have to cancel and be out of work for the week.
What happens to you when unexpected derailments happen?
How do you handle it?
The learning that came from this for me: I realized the importance of having systems to soften the blow from the unexpected flowing into my life. If I have systems in place, like a savings account I can draw from for lost income for illness or someone else that can deliver the work for me. But what if we don’t have such systems available now?
Search for where YOU might be vulnerable and feel unstable in unexpected events because they do happen.
Find ways to set up small support systems that can ease the feelings of uncertainty you will feel.
Taking small steps to put a few backup plans in place will help you feel at ease and handle the unexpected a bit easier.
Ask yourself:
What small thing can you put in place right now to help you out later on when unexpected things happen?
Where do you feel you have vulnerabilities, should an unexpected event happen?It was a reality check to figure out how I could support myself, even in the unexpected!
Please share with me your systems in the comments!
