From Frog To Freedom

You are no frog!

Working with a client today who is facing several life changes in the coming months, the focus became to optimally navigate the inevitable decisions that would ensue.

To do this we started to explore who she was. What was the best version of her she could recall & why? We cross-checked this against times of fulfilment as well as times of challenge.

A growing theme in these conversations is when exploring times of challenge, periods of stress, the experience of burnout is the slow and insidious way the strain develops. Yes, there are examples of a particular incident or experience that catapult one straight into the challenge end of the spectrum, these pale compare to examples of “it just crept up on me”. Using such examples to explore what is not the authentic and best version of you naturally leads to a degree of inspection and reflection.

How do so many of us find our way into such desperate times?

I have been open about my own challenges and difficulties (see links in the comments below) that led to developing PTSD. I now identify as a PTSD survivor. Yes, there were some horrible headline events, but it was the slow erosion of my ability to cope that had the most impact.

Of course, situations do not all progress this extremely. A way to ward this off is to have a frame – a decision-informing tool to hand.

One such tool is a personal statement. Who am I? What is important to you, what prevents you from living your best life?

Knowledge is power, and this self knowledge is nothing short of nuclear power. Knowing who you are will mean that you know whether the next role opportunity is right for you in terms of location, hours, workload, work plan and even finance. A word to the wise – if the pay offer is very big, what are they taking in return? Is it you?

Identifying your frame can be hard, a way to make a start is to work out what you are not. This “red light” or “red line” approach can stand you in great stead immediately. Just knowing a few of your own “red lines” can help you make better decisions immediately.

So, are you a frog? Many many of us are or have been, be not afraid, there is a path out of the boiling water. Lets find that path without you making the same decisions that has you in the hotter and hotter water right now.

Once you have some red lines, once you have a decision making frame, the next step is to live it. Manifest the best version of you – have you given consideration to the opposite?