Insights from ‘Option B’.

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by life’s challenges, feeling unsure of how to move forward?

Perhaps you’ve experienced the death of a loved one, struggled through job loss, or felt the heartache of a relationship ending.

You’re not alone. These are things we all endure at some point in our lives.

Insights from Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant’s “Option B” can illuminate your path towards resilience. This book emphasises that resilience is built through community, purpose, and adaptability, and now is the perfect time to explore how you can integrate these themes into your life.

Reading this book reminded me of the summer of 2022. I had just been awarded Master Certified Coach (MCC) status from the ICF professional coaching body—an accolade apparently only 4% of coaches achieve. And then my dad died.

Under less traumatic circumstances, I would have felt immense pride and a sense of accomplishment, sharing my great news with others.

Instead, I felt numb. What did it really matter? I let my hard-fought achievement slip by, unmarked and unmentioned.

However, as I journeyed through my grief, I realised that to honour Dad’s passing, I needed to stand boldly in my MCC shoes, bring this level of expertise to my clients, and celebrate the news with people in my life and career. My dad had always been my number one cheerleader, and I knew he would be celebrating and sharing all over the place had he still been here.

This would be his legacy of ‘striving and thriving’ continuing on through me. My way of bringing to life all he’d taught me. By tapping into meaning and purpose—one of the approaches to take when facing difficulty—I found my resilience.

How to build your resilience when life gets tough 

🤝 Build your support system: Engage with family, friends, or support groups to share experiences and foster connections that provide emotional strength. Don’t suffer in silence. If a good friend was going thorough the same, wouldn’t you want her to reach out?

✨ Find meaning and purpose: In the face of adversity, create new goals aligned with your values, just as I did by embracing my MCC status. This helps regain motivation and perspective.

🙏🏻 Practice gratitude and positivity: Reflect on the positives in your life to shift your mindset and develop a resilient outlook. You’ve no doubt heard of the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal. I, myself, prefer a positivity journal – capturing three things at the end of each day that went well or made me smile. Try it for yourself.

🎁 Embrace change and learn: Find the gift or opportunity. In Positive Intelligence terms this is called the ‘Sage Perspective’. View challenges as opportunities for growth. Each setback can teach valuable lessons that enhance your adaptability and grit.

Incorporating these strategies can empower you to face adversity with courage, turning tough times into opportunities for growth and connection.

In case you’re interested in reading ‘Option B’, here are some thoughts from me in a 2-minute video.

And to discover how to grow your positive intelligence, join me at the next free ‘Introduction to Mental Fitness’ webinar.

Wishing you much strength as you recover, rebound and possibly even thrive through your ‘option B’.

For further support, check out OptionB.org for ideas on self-care and supporting others.

Sarah 💛