The Flat Tire Theory
It’s the day after my birthday and I’m feeling pretty good about life, singing to the radio as I drive to a session with my personal trainer - who also happens to be my amazing son.
I’m jolted from my solo by what feels like a “curb check.” My tire pressure alert starts flashing at me indicating we have a problem.
I try to squeeze the few blocks left out of my tire to get to my destination. Unfortunately, my car says otherwise.
Bummer, flat tire!
Here’s the thing, I could let this define my energy. Instead, I remind myself my life is generally good. I’m steady and healthy. Most importantly, I have the emotional bandwidth to manage this and keep moving. It’s literally a bump in the road.
What’s a flat tire to you? A bump in the road with opportunity to persevere. Or, a roadblock that sucks your energy?
How do you shift the focus when something interrupts your flow or begs a negative response? It’s more than gratitude. It’s knowing you have the strength and tools to manage the rough spots. Do you get stuck on what’s going wrong or do you have the tools to pivot, shift, and let go of previous expectations?
I’m not talking about tragedy or full recalibration of life goals. That’s a different process. I’m talking about unexpected occurrences that force a change of plans.
Is it a flat tire or an avalanche?
Is this a little thing or a big thing?
Is it a pivot or full course recalibration?
Sometimes, what’s really a bump in the road, or a flat tire if you will, feels like major destruction, an avalanche. But this is actually due to the internal narrative we’re telling ourselves. The expectations we’ve placed on the outcome - good and bad. We had expectations of how our day would go. Now, we have to delay or even miss out on those plans.
We don’t have to let expectations overrule reality. Turns out, when things go wrong, we don’t need to respond to our nervous system. Try asking yourself a few questions to recalibrate:
What’s really at stake?
What tools do I have to help me refocus?
What support systems do I have to help manage this bump in the road?
Instead of reacting to our nervous system, slow down, respond with self-compassion and intention. That’s the secret to solving problems!
Want more discover more clarity and tools to help you navigate your bump in the road or just where you want to go next? Book your free Wake Up Call with me here: The Wake Up Call.