How To Navigate A Season of Trials & Challenges

Oct 5, 2021

Have you ever been in a season of consistent challenges? Where it seems like you can’t catch a break?

 

Recently I’ve been navigating a season where I’ve been faced with challenges in multiple areas of life, including…

• Major transitions within in my career
• Unexpected Financial dilemmas
• Fatherhood challenges of an adolescent daughter
• Health & Fitness challenges

 

In the past…this is type of stressful season would be a prime setup for me making horrible decisions. Stress is a trigger for poor decision making. Stress is a trigger to develop ‘escapes’ from negative emotions of adverse circumstances. Escapes are defined as poor decisions, bad habits, and vices take away value from your life or adversely affect the well-being of others.

 

This leads to potential bad decisions in any area of life including…

• Poor health decisions
• Poor marital decisions
• Poor financial decisions
• Neglecting faith & Family…just to name a few

 

Here is the typical sequence when we face significant stress:

Stress -> Negative emotions -> Bad decisions -> More stress -> on and on…

 

In the past, I would also would get in the habit of working harder during this time. It was easier to work harder and neglect the poor decisions being made, instead of slowing down to stop the cycle of stress and poor decisions.

 

This can become really discouraging. So, How do you successfully navigate this season of consistent challenges?

 

What I’ve found is that in the midst of challenges and stress, it is not the time to just put your head down and keep on working. That’s a setup for neglect and snowballing problems.

 

There are 2 strategies I’ve found that have been gamechangers when it comes to successfully navigating the valleys along the way to future victory:

 

1. Slow down
2. Share your thoughts

 

First let’s discuss Slowing down:

Definition: Taking dedicated time to THINK!

• “What is my greatest challenge right now?”
• “What’s the best next step for me to take?”

• Allows you to work smarter, not harder
• Allows you to be reassured that everything will be ok
• Puts things in right perspective and limits worry
• Allows you to get clarity

Action item: Prayer and silent time in the morning! This time will allow you to gather your thoughts and have clarity on what’s the best next step to take.

 

Second, Share your thoughts:

Definition: Sharing your challenges with someone you know and trust

• Allows for clarity also
• Allows for release of the weight of overwhelm…it’s therapeutic!

Action: Choose someone who is close to you that you trust to be transparent with (i.e. spouse, brother, friend, etc) Call them and ask if they would be willing to lend an ear simply so you can get your emotions off of your chest.

 

Remember this: These seasons are important…very important! Because how we navigate these valleys determines how we navigate the future victories. This adversity is a precursor to future achievement.

 

Therefore, Slow down & Share your thoughts

 

If you need help, book a 1:1 Discovery Call with me at https://drbradmd.com

Talk to you soon,

Dr. Brad