“Who loves a curveball? My life is full of them.” That is a line from my #TEDx talk and let me tell you, life threw me another curveball recently that I never saw coming. Major issues in my basement disrupted my schedule, wreaked havoc on my bank account, and had my mindset doing somersaults. It was one of those moments where you question, “Why now?”
Lesson one: Know when to ask for help.
While I managed to tackle a few repairs myself, I quickly realized I needed the pros for the heavy lifting. Getting clear information from them was key to making smart decisions about my projects. And it was an incredible opportunity to really get to know the systems and quirks of this beautiful older home that my kiddos and I moved into a couple of years ago.
Lesson two: Turn downtime into growth time.
As I spent time cleaning up the aftermath and shuttling to and from the laundromat, I turned those hours into opportunities. Instead of drowning in frustration, I plugged into podcasts and videos on social media and marketing strategies. It’s amazing how a laundry basket can become a mobile university.
Lesson three: Shift your perspective.
Here’s the real deal – setbacks and struggles are inevitable. But the game-changer is how you see them. Looking at challenges through a thriving lens transforms them into opportunities for growth. What can you learn? How can you evolve? These questions make navigating the storm much more manageable.
Lesson four: Seek the lesson within the struggle.
So, here’s your call to action: take a look at a current frustration in your life. How can you resolve it in a way that helps you grow? Do you need to ask for help? Can you employ skills you already have or learn new ones?
I am happy to report that my basement is finally dry, my laundry system will be up and running TODAY!, and if you subscribe to my email newsletter, you are going to receive all the mindset, social media, and marketing tips I learned while listening to so many podcasts in the clean up! (You can subscribe to that here.)
Remember, challenges are just opportunities in disguise. Embrace them, learn from them, and let’s all thrive together.
Discover the power of embracing ability and advantage in disability through Kristin Smedley’s transformative books, impactful speaking engagements, enlightening workshops, and thought-provoking films. Dive into her best-selling book “Thriving Blind” on Amazon, and elevate your next event by booking Kristin at kristinsmedley.com to ignite conversations that foster inclusivity and empowerment.
