Taking Action in Times of Doubt

Inertia.

I have talked with leaders who have moved into a new, broader role and with people who have lost their jobs and with leaders who have gotten negative reviews and with folks who are struggling through an emotional upheaval. And, I have thought about some of my most difficult times.

Once we have gotten to a better place - we've had success in the new role; we've had some interviews or landed a new job; we've successfullly rebounded from the constructive and sometimes painful feedback; we've navigated through personal loss or upheaval and regained our balance - I often hear people talk about how they experienced a low-activity time. A time when they couldn't act, didn't know what action to take - when they simply were stuck.

And, this reminds me of the Cycle of Renewal© model that is central to the teaching of the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara. For more information, see their website: http://www.hudsoninstitute.com/

This elegant but not simple model helps describe the inertia that can anyone facing the situations described above. When things are going well - we are hitting on all cylanders - we are in Phase 1 or Go For It.



However, when things take a difficult turn we can move into Phase 2, The Doldrums which is defined as " a down time, a protracted sense of decline, when you're not happy with your life chapter, but you don't think you can do much about it. The Doldrums are meant to serve as a wake-up call, an invitation to restructure or reinvent your life so that it works for you once more."



How can we best react to the doldrums? What are some questions that can help us move, take a step, make a call, reach out, reflect, move on? And, how can we learn from this transition, this ending?

What has helped you through or learn from times of inertia?

• is it finding someone who will listen - just listen, not tell you what to do?
• is it journaling and sorting out your thoughts?
• is it letting go of what was - marking, celebrating, acknowledging the end?
• it is reconnecting to your core values?
• is it unearthing the most important questions to answer?
• isit thinking about how you have faced similar situations?
• is it giving yourself some space?
• is it thinking about what IS working?
• is it learning somehing new?

Many paaths - which one helps you through such times?