Something happened to change your life. It could be an illness, a job loss or a relationship change. And your world doesn’t feel safe anymore.
I’m not going to promise you that your circumstances will change immediately, but here are five steps to prepare for your comeback.
Number 1. Trust yourself.
Maybe you are disagreeing with me. What? Trust myself? Or maybe you are saying, ‘Duh’.
Either way, think back on other times you were successful. What did you do? What are the tools you used? How can you adapt those tools for your current circumstances?
Number 2. Respect the grieving process.
You have lost something or someone and it hurts. Pretending it doesn’t is counterproductive. It makes the pain last longer and slows down the healing process. And you need some degree of healing to make a comeback.
Number 3. Set a time limit on your grieving process.
This gives you permission to let other people take care of you for a short time and it keeps you from falling into victim-mode. In victim-mode, your energy level and confidence are low. It’s impossible to make a comeback as a victim.
Pick a time during the day to watch your pain. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Watch your thoughts and feelings. Notice where it shows up in your body. Sit in the feeling and wait for it to subside without judging or pushing it away. Do this for a couple of weeks and you should feel some relief.
Number 4. Focus on what you can control.
Assess what you have in your toolbox. It’s important to be honest with yourself about yourself.
This is key to making a comeback. Be clear on what you have in your toolbox. Are you great at project management, relationship building, or writing? Are you a quick study? Make sure your tools are sharp and ready to go.
Number 5. Reset your mindset.
Be curious. Be hungry. Be relentless.
This a learner’s mindset. Look at everything with ‘Is it true?’ How can you use it to make your life better? If it doesn’t work, notice, assess, then let it go. Then keep looking until you find what does work.
The return on your investment will show in ways you can’t predict. That’s the one thing I can promise.
