As the world has shut down because of coronavirus, the volume of HARD choices has increased exponentially. Scariest of all, these choices are dictated to us by forces outside of our control. People are facing personal health fears, worries about their families, and trying to figure out how to teach 4th-grade math while having a weekly team meeting, virtually. Businesses are struggling to determine what to do with employees when the revenue is gone, and workers begin to realize they do not have enough cash savings to weather a long dry spell. All of these decisions are thrust upon us by uncontrollable forces, a very new sensation for society.
This virus has forced HARD choices upon the entire population. Previous HARD choices now seem trivial and extremely optional. Do I pass on the fries? Do I get up early to exercise? Do I put in a few extra hours on that work project? Do I reach out to my estranged sibling? Do I put my phone down for dinner? At the moment, these choices felt extremely difficult. Now, with the perspective of a world-wide pandemic, we understand the real shallowness and emptiness of these types of “hard” decisions. For the first time, entire generations sit at the precipice of a once in a lifetime opportunity. Opportunity? Yes, opportunity.
Charles De Gaulle said, “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” De Gaulle led the French resistance during World War II, and chaired the provisional French government from 1944 to 1946 to re-establish democracy in France. De Gaulle knew the power of HARD choices. He understood the formative properties that accompany choosing the HARDER path. History shows us that people and societies that embrace HARD times are significantly more resilient and emotionally more durable than before the traumatic event occurred. The personal growth from these events is easier said than done; below are simple strategies on how to mentally position yourself to reap the benefits of the HARDSHIPS at hand.
1. Be grateful. Everyone has something to be grateful for, even in the worst moments. Start the day by writing down three things you are grateful for, regardless of how dire your situation seems. Find a “grateful” buddy and share your list of three.
2. Keep it small. It is easy to focus on the future scenarios of doom and despair. It is easy to get caught up in “what if” scenarios. Keep your attention on small controllable outcomes and keep your goals in tight windows of time. (Example — No news for one day.)
3. Take Action. Now, with a quarantine, this may require some creativity. But why not write the book you have always wanted to, or polish up your resume. Start a physical challenge. Action is a cure-all, and taking action occupies your mind. Action initiates forward momentum, even if you aren’t exactly sure where you are going.
The future is uncertain, and things will most likely get worse before they get better. How we choose to respond will not only dictate our near term state of existence but will go a long way to strengthen our overall resiliency. Resiliency is the best benefit of HARD decisions. The choice is yours. One thing is sure; you will have plenty of opportunities to practice HARD choices over the next few weeks, so choose wisely and use this opportunity to invest in your future success.