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Now more than ever it’s time to engage in reflection and action, as the antidotes to social distancing and feelings of loss, isolation, frustration, and fear.
We all want things to go “back to normal.” But the best thing you can do right is to take life as it is, one day at a time. That’s the first thing you must reflect on and take proactive action to make happen.
Neither of us really knows for how long the current social distancing measures will be in place. We don’t know when businesses will be able to reopen or when normal economic activity will reassume.
This is a prime opportunity to put into practice your emphatic skills. Now, when you, your audience, along with the whole world, is feeling and living through the effects of this global crisis.
Reflection will make you come to terms with this obstacle
Right now, you feel the anxiety, the fear, the sadness, and the pain, of having the plans, goals, and dreams you had for this year cut short, or put off indefinitely. Yes, your plan has to change.
As you reflect on this new reality, focus on what this will mean for yourself, your brand, and the future sustainability of your business, but don’t dwell there, don’t dwell on you. Move your thoughts on to your clients, your audience, think about them, and about how their big picture has also shifted.
- How is this situation affecting them?
- How can you make this situation better for them?
- What actions can you take to be there for them?
Action will move you (successfully) past this obstacle
As a brand or business leader, as a fully empathic and compassionate person, you must make your primary objective to care for your people during this time of great uncertainty. Usher them through the many unknowns ahead, and point them toward the light at the end of the tunnel.
At this point, you might not be able to “see” the light yourself. But you must let your tribe know it’s there, and that you will reach it together.
So, every time you seemed lost yourself, discourage and tired, remember your tribe, your audience, remember their own pain, and what you’re called to do. Your higher purpose. They need you and you have something bigger to fight for. Remember this tweetable:
Embracing a leader mentality will keep you proactively thinking and creatively looking for ways to help your community and engage your tribe, planting the seeds for the future harvest. Tweet MeRemember also to be, feel and express gratitude for what you have and where you are. You are…
- At home (to recharge, refocus, redesign, reinvent.)
- Safe (to daydream and plan, and learn.)
- Doing something for the wellbeing of all by staying inside.
- Grateful for the people you have in your life, the opportunities to connect, even in a remote way.
Reflection and Action: final thoughts
Reflection and action can also be defined as planning and execution or thinking and doing. As a creative, brand or business you know you cannot stay in the “planning” or “thinking” stage for you to move forward. You can and will move forward from this. As Twyla Tharp says in this next tweetable…
"When you're in a rut, you have to question everything except your ability to get out of it." Twyla Tharp (The Creative Habit) Tweet MeTake a moment to pause, breathe, reflect and take action.
- Pause your mind and let all other thoughts float away.
- Breathe and follow the breath for a couple of cycles, in and out, in and out.
- Reflect on your day, your week. How is your creative routine serving you, who have you served today?
- What small action can you take next that will give you a small win to celebrate today?
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