Shift Happens!

The terms, ‘shit happens’ is a great slang to describe the ‘existential reflection that life is full of capricious events’.  How we individually deal with those events is the essence of resilience.  Resilience development is a cornerstone of personal development, leadership and team coaching.  With resilience when it all hits the fan we all have the opportunity to transform ‘shit happens’ into ‘shift happens’.
 
Resilience is the ability to withstand stress and overcome catastrophe.  I often facilitate team building initiatives and during a debrief ask the participants who insight they have personally gained from the experience … resilience is often used, however not in its correct context.  Resilience simply means bouncing back from hardship.  Resilience isn’t about enjoying a charmed life free of challenges.  Everyone goes through tough times; this is essential for resilience development. It’s not a mistake if painful events happen to us: that’s just how things are supposed to be.  Our measure of resilience is how much and fast we bounce back from these struggles.  Resilience is not something you either have or don’t have.  It is something within each of us and involves our thoughts, behaviours and attitudes.  Resilience is something we can improve upon and enhance, and a multifaceted approach to resilience development is essential. 
 
Simple practices such as regular mindfulness that includes self-compassion enhances resilience.  Through mindfulness and self-compassion, we can develop a shift from being caught up in the particulars of a ‘story’ of a moment we are experiencing with compassionate attention.  Over time this practice allows for a shift in our neural pathways – a shift from our lower brain structures, reactivity and fear based emotional processing to our higher brain structures of abstract reasoning and executive function.  It also strengthens a more regulated emotional processing. 
 
‘Shit Happens’ is actually an opportunity.  It is an opportunity to let all your habits of rumination and irritability come to the surface.  It is an opportunity, each time, to practice engaging and strengthening your inner resources.
 
At Escape-And-Explore we focus on resilience development using wilderness environments as our mindfulness playgrounds – free from everyday stressors and distractions, these arenas allow for focus on new mindsets and experiences in a unique setting.  Our Explore Plus Coaching packages allow for the delivery and development of potential through
 

• Acceptance that change is inevitable and part of living
• Cultivation of a positive perspective of yourself
• Creation and maintenance of connections to self and your environment
• Seeing crises as challenges for growth rather than insurmountable problems
• Keeping perspective on the big picture
• Taking care of yourself with attention to your feelings, needs and where your mental and physical wellbeing lies.

 
 
Looking to shift your ‘shit’ and reconnect, redefine and rediscover.  Get in contact with us to discuss our packages. 

Krissy
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