Written by: Jennifer Sharp, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
For most of us, life offers abundant opportunities for both laughter and tears. The good times you savour—the hard times go to your heart and into your soul, eventually navigating their way into your head rewiring all the networks – negatively.
Have you ever been there? I have. The last six months for me have been very challenging personally – I’ve been put through the wringer more than once. Has this affected my business? On some levels, yes. But what I have discovered along the way and in speaking with others is the ability to handle life’s challenges is a measure of our strength and character. And yet, where do we learn how to deal with these difficulties?
In school, we are taught how to read and write, add numbers and are given strategies in how to get along with each other. But what about the keys to living? There is a Dummies 101 book for learning technology, for learning about business strategies, but where is the Dummies For Life 101 book?
Who teaches us about the loss of a pet, a sibling, a parent? Who teaches us how to handle the loss of a job or a relationship failure? Who teaches us to use our voice when we need to even if we are going against the grain? Unfortunately, the keys to these are only handed over when we have that tower moment, and the cracks begin to show as our world seemingly fall apart.
So, how do we handle these setbacks in life?
Acknowledge every associated feeling. Cry those ugly tears if you need to but don’t wallow. Acknowledge all that you must to understand why it happened, look for the lesson then take that huge, vertical, powerful leap with all the strength you can muster. Raise your butt over the lath and land far ahead of where you were knocked down. Get up. Smile. Thank the Universe or whoever may be listening, then move on to the next stage. You are one step closer to being who you were meant to be.
But these are continuously challenging times. How many times do we need to experience these moments before we are able to move on? Tower moments often occur when we are trying to make sense of our lives amongst all our workplace pressures and stress as well as these in our private lives.
How do we maintain positivity when life catches us on the blindside? How do we keep taking that leap?
I know I’ve often asked the Universe, “give me a break – let me catch my breath – can we negotiate something here please?”
Believing in yourself is powerful. Look within, accept that no matter what your circumstance, there is always a reason the tower crumbles and always a reason it gets rebuilt. Believing requires knowing that your life, and your life’s work has value. Give yourself permission to take that break, sit quietly, talk to yourself internally in a positive way – we’ve all heard positive affirmation. Write some of your own specific to you and your situation.
Living in our current times we must live each day fully regardless of what is thrown at us. The challenges will always be there – failure, defeat, and loss affect us all. But its how we handle these setbacks in life that makes the difference to our existence and how we perform our daily personal and business tasks.
Don’t wait for an invitation, take that leap before you are ready, trust in YOU, in your power. Land in that sand with a thump, get up, brush yourself off, smile and say thank you for a new day, a new determination, and much more courage than you had before.
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Jennifer Sharp, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Jennifer Sharp is a leader in the publishing industry, having founded international award-winning publishing presses. She has assisted many with telling their success stories globally, whether it be in business or life and has created coaching and mentoring programs that develop the writer's confidence in themselves and strategies that help them stay confident within themselves in all areas of their lives authentically.
Jennifer is the founder of Soul Essence International Publishing Press which holds two exclusive, retreats each year for those in leadership. The leadership retreat encompasses a three day elitist, luxury event at an exclusive location that incorporates keynote speakers, and the celebration of a collaborative book written by leaders for leaders. Each author also has access to being in a documentary. Jennifer is also the founder of Daisy Lane Publishing – a multi award winning publishing press dedicated to and for inspirational, educational books that celebrate diversity and inclusion. She also successfully executes a book coaching program ‒ Breakthrough:6 Steps to Successfully Publish Your Story coaching program.
Jennifer is on a mission to support as many as she can with living their life fully with positive intentions and to assist them with publishing their story along the way. Jennifer is passionate about bringing to life stories that show how women and men have risen above the naysayers in leadership and everyday life to be who they are today, having stepped up regardless of obstacles to pave the way forward for others whilst working from their soul and heart space.
Jennifer is an international keynote speaker and awards presenter and has been seen in YMag, ROAR Awards, Brainz Magazine, Mo2vate Magazine, CEO, 28COE, The OTEL Universe, Ausmumpreneur and is also a multi published author having published 5-star children’s books, self-help, and authorship books amongst others. When not at her desk she is often found with coffee in hand, cat on knee or with her besties on the beach.