It was a “real kick in the junk”, as my middle sister likes to so eloquently say.
The month was an illness sandwich (and not the yummy kind) that started with a bout of food poisoning that somehow lasted for 2 weeks and ended with a gnarly cold that ran through the entire house. Add the illnesses on top of just normal “life is so busy and we are barely hanging on” and it was enough to make it all feel like a house of cards.
A house of card where all it takes is a big, strong sneeze for it to come tumbling down.
You know what happens next.
When things like this happen, I often ask myself: what would I tell someone else to do? What would I suggest to a friend? A client? A caregiver I am supporting?
Well, in my parent coaching course, one of the very first tools I offer is something I call “The O Exercise”:
When you have a challenge, what is is like if you see it as an Obstacle? Something that is getting in the way, a barrier, a block to doing what you need/want/have to do. Often times, this lens increases the feeling of frustration, the “why me?” Mindset, the hopelessness even.
Poor Ross.
Okay, now look at that same challenge as an Obligation. I don’t want to do it, but I have to. It is my job. It is my role. It is my burden. It is my duty. This can help us suck it up and grit it out and get through maybe a little easier than when we see it as an obstacle.
You've got this Schmidt.
Now, what if you took that very same challenge and you tried to see it as an Opportunity?
Wait! Don't leave!
SO fair!
I know what you are thinking!
I can hear your eye roll from across the internet!
Hang in with me!
I get it.
I know it’s hard.
I know it sucks.
I know you don’t want this thing to be happening, AND, the reality is that, well, it is, so is there any way we can see this as an opportunity to learn, to grow, to take care of ourselves, to build our resilience?
Yes. You. Can.
Because, and I know you know this already,
change and growth don’t happen on the good days.
Change and growth happen,
for us, for our kids, for our clients,
on the “a real kick in the junk” days.
It's annoying, but you know I'm right.
So, in taking my own advice,
I decided to see January as an Opportunity.
It was an opportunity to slow down, because my body was forcing me to, and evaluate what I was doing.
It was an opportunity to figure out exactly what I DO NOT want to bring into 2026.
It was a an opportunity to, on Day 31 our of 365 days in 2026, to make a necessary course adjustment for the year.
And so far, February has been so. much. better.
Thank goodness!
But it isn’t just a mindset shift.
I also did a LOT of things in January to help me start February 1st with a new energy.
What exactly did I do?
I cried. I a lot.
I talked to my husband.
Then my Dad.
Then my coach.
Then my mentor.
Then my sister.
(If you didn’t already know, I am a verbal processer. No shame people.)
I took a sick day to rest.
I went to my trusty journal and I listed out as many “beacuse's” as I could think of. (ie. “This feels hard because…because….because…until I couldn’t think of anything else to write.)
And through all of this, I figured out what I wanted to leave behind and NOT bring into 2026.
Then I energetically
put all that “real kick in the junk” January stuff into a dumpster.
And I poured gasoline on it.
And I lit a match.
(In my mind of course. I do NOT condone arson.)
I saged myself in my imagination.
And gave myself space to start fresh.
And February has been great so far.
So let me end with one question and one invitation:
Question:
How might your current challenge be an opportunity,
just wearing a really ugly outfit?
Invitation:
I cordially invite you to create a (mental) dumpster in which to (in your imagination) put all the things that aren’t serving you anymore and light a big ‘ol match (metaphorically ONLY please!!) and take a deep breath while you allow it to burn.
NO REAL FIRES PEOPLE.
Just like a forest fire,
it is in the ashes of what we no longer need where
