When The World Unravels, Will You?
You can only control your responses to life
The world around us has been plunged into another crisis with Russia’s outright invasion of Ukraine.
The largest invasion of a sovereign nation since WWII. Who knows what will transpire next? Our world has been shaken.
When your world is shaken, are you rattled as well?
Lesson to Learn
We do not have control of the world around us.
International actors can plunge our world into chaos. And they certainly will not ask permission or even inform you of what they are about to do.
The only thing we can control is our response.
We get to control how we live our lives in the context of global events. We need to prepare ourselves.
With a highly interconnected world, even more so than before the pandemic, we still get to decide who we are becoming and how we will react to whatever transpires.
Choose who you are and your response.
Answer for Me
I was severely shaken by the chain of events that transpired in Europe.
As a West Point graduate, military veteran, and state economic leader, I immediately recognized how serious this was for our national and economic security.
However, what Russia does is out of my control. My response is not.
What I do at this moment — and each future moment — matters greatly. I am accountable for myself.
I have learned over the years that I must try to be my best self despite the circumstances. Whenever I am my best self, I can find a way to offer value and service to others.
Being aware of my feelings and capabilities helps me respond appropriately. When I do this, I navigate through the worst of times. Yet, I can still do amazing things with family, friends, and trusted colleagues around me.
The circumstances, even dire ones, do not need to dictate my outcomes.
Action
What do you do when the world unravels?
What is your typical response to difficult news or a very challenging situation?
We can all learn from our prior responses, ground ourselves in our values, and reach out to friends and colleagues. We can dig deep and find a path forward.
When we know who we are, it allows us to offer our best selves.
The pandemic has taught us all to navigate uncharted territory. We learned if we did it together, we are all better off.
When all of us give our best, we get the best outcome.
Daily Habits
Live out of your best self because this is what sustains us.
During a crisis, pause and take a breath. Assess what you can and cannot control.
We can learn from how we responded before. Use this to chart your path forward.
Who can help you today?
Who can walk alongside you?
Who needs your help?
A crisis can be an opportunity wrapped up as a challenge.
Strive to meet it head on to learn about yourself. When you do, the world is better served!
Do you want more insights?
To learn more about leadership, visit me at www.macny.org.
To get a copy of my book Present-Future Leader, click here.
