Four ways to thrive in chaotic times

Chaos seems to be the norm these days.  I have discovered four ways to move past survival mode and to thrive in chaotic times.

Drama unfolds daily on the world stage, but chaos isn’t only found in politics and pandemics.

Prior to 2020 your life might have been too busy, which felt chaotic.  Modern life had not made life simple as promised.  

I love Jewel’s song Hands.  

If I could tell the world just one thing it would be that we’re all ok.  And not worry ‘cause worry is wasteful and useless in times like these.  

I won’t be made useless or be idle with despair.  I will gather myself around my faith.  For light does the darkness fear. ~ Jewel

It may be a struggle, but it is possible to learn to thrive in these chaotic times.  

Four ways to thrive

Talking with friends and journaling has brought to light four ways to move past survival mode.  I encourage you to spend time answering the journal prompts and pondering the ways you can thrive.  

Acknowledge trauma

Life doesn’t slow down for chaos, but it’s important to process the trauma.  

Families still function.  The sun still rises and sets daily.   

Trauma is the not the experience.  Trauma is what is left in the body from the experience.  

The world has handed you {and me} a whopping dose of fear, continually. Your nerves may be frazzled from the body’s fight or flight response, depending on how much you expose yourself to the fear.

It’s exhausting to carry around stress for extended periods of time.  You may feel moody, tired and avoid things you need to do.  You may even think, what’s the use? 

It is important to acknowledge what you may be suppressing in order to function.

Don’t be afraid to journal your thoughts and feelings, if only to release them.  

Extend yourself grace.  These thoughts and feelings are clues that you need to take a break.  

After acknowledging the trauma, get reacquainted with what matters to you.  Surround yourself with what is lovely and true in your life.

Get physical

“I will not be made useless or be idle by despair.” ~ Jewel

Turn towards movement in moments of despair.  

Sweating my ass off in my victory garden makes me feel alive.  A true labor of love that allows me to focus on wonder.  I feel productive.  

I thrive in my garden, but also enjoy roller skating, talking to my family and friends, spending time with Jeff, building my dreams, helping midlife women and taking a walk {not in any specific order}. 

Gardening may not be your thing, but you can train yourself to turn towards what makes you feel alive!  Movement.  Any movement. 

Journal your responses…

What makes me feel productive?

How can I savor this moment? 

Is there movement that I can do today? 

Remember your accomplishments

Resilience has taught me that I can handle anything that is thrown at me.  

You have done hard things.  You have probably have done harder things while toting toddlers or juggling a demanding career.  

Build your confidence by journaling all that you have accomplished in your life.

How does that list make you feel?  I hope you see you are a badass capable of handling chaos.  

What do you believe about your accomplishments?  

Do you believe you are resilient?  

Worry is a misuse of your imagination

“Cause worry is wasteful and useless in times like these.” ~Jewel  

You may want to avoid more bad news or fear what is to come, but you can be confident in your strength to find a way through it. 

Imagining the worst case scenario in the present is wasteful and does little to affect the outcome.  In fact, you are actually experiencing what you fear ahead of time by worrying about it.

It is wise to prepare for the future, but the truth is you can’t predict how the future will exactly unfold.  So do what you can and trust yourself to handle the unexpected.  

No use worrying about what you don’t know to worry about.  

“I am never broken.” ~ Jewel

How committed are you to the chaos? 

Are you ready to let it go?

Journaling the prompts I’ve shared is a great start, but you may need help moving past the trauma.  

Never heard of working up a good mad?  It’s a real thing.  

If you are like me, once you’ve worked up a good mad for an extended period of time, it isn’t easy to see another way.  

I want to encourage you.  There is a way to thrive in the chaos.  I am confident that I can help you find YOUR way. 

I invite you to schedule a consultation to talk about the trauma you’ve been carrying.  You can ask me all the questions you might have about coaching and see if working with me is a good fit for you. 

Simply click on my calendar link and pick a date/time that works for you!

Here’s to to thriving!

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky.