The world is struggling. Just watch the news and you will have to work hard to stay positive. At the same time the struggling world needs people like you and I who can see and feel the struggles, pain and setbacks but then pause and choose to respond differently. I believe now is the time to have open minds and hearts to re-imagine, redesign and rebuild our future with intentionality determination. Now is a time for change. So, be different, become the change.
Over the last few months Danny has led his team to bring in a record harvest – great yields and fantastic quality. But then the world around him spoiled the joy. Because of the economic downturn, the war, and the difficulties at our ports the markets weakened drastically. The outcome was that with low prices for their product they farmed at huge loss. What a downer – celebration turned into frustration…
However, this man is tough! He decided to “face the music”, communicated the hard facts to his team, and pointed out the positives in the situation: “we still have work, water, soil, a success record, and we have each other”. He is now looking for efficient ways to make up the loss and started to plan with his team for the new season. Needless to say that emotions are still fluctuating at times, but the attitude is “we are successful, we will be successful, and we can get through a time like this”. I believe they will! And they will be a prototype of hope.
Just imagine what would have happened if they allowed all the negativity to get the better of them. When negative things happen to us the so-called 3 p’s can easily kick in, leaving as helpless and overwhelmed:
- Personalise: Instead of seeing the events objectively, we take this personally – “why me?”
- Pervasive: We become blind for what is good and great, and see the negative as pervasive and entrenched everywhere – “everything is bad”, or “the whole world is in a mess”.
- Permanent: We lose hope for a better future and don’t expect things to change – “everything will stay like this forever, no matter what we do”.
The good news is that when we recognise this disempowering pattern, we can change our perspective and position, e.g. telling ourselves “I am not the only one, I can handle this, there are still many great things to be grateful for, and this too shall pass”. And then we can pick up our heads, see the possibilities of a better future on the other side and make plans to get there. We stop seeing only darkness, and start becoming rain-makers and light-bearers.
I don’t know what you are going through currently. But I know this: “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going”. And the fact is, you are tougher, braver and stronger than you think. It is now time for all of us to dig deep and toughen up. Let’s pull back our shoulders, breath properly, focus on what’s good and great, pray and meditate like never before, speak as people with hope, and plan and take action in the right direction. Choose to be a hope-giver, a difference-maker, even when you don’t feel like it! You will be blessed for it.
