Whenever we make plans or set goals, it’s important anticipate the inevitable bumps in the road, and be ready to adapt and course-correct.
But sometimes, life doesn’t just serve up a bump in the road. It delivers an earthquake that shakes us to the core and opens up a chasm into which our entire life–and all of our fancy plans–are thrown. In an instant, the goals, projects and ambitions that have been driving our thoughts, activities, and even our identities become irrelevant.
Today, psychologist Bethy Campbell joins me to talk about how to handle it when life goes completely off the rails.
Read more: How to cope when your life goes completely off the railsKey Takeaways
- Many of us tend to define ourselves by the goals that we set and accomplish. Consider the possibility that how we deal with life’s catastrophes may be even more revealing of our character and identity.
- Even when you’re stuck with something you didn’t choose, you still have the power to choose how you respond to and learn from those experiences.
- Before we go looking for those silver linings or opportunities, it’s important to allow ourselves to acknowledge our grief and disappointment over what we may have lost.
- Even if we are forced to radically recalibrate our goals or our definition of success, setting doable goals gives us something to work toward and celebrate.