Are You In A Panic?

Are You In a Panic?

Do you find yourself breathless and in a panic over whatever is happening for you right now?

Stressed out in the middle of a career transition?

Desperately grasping for new clients?

You find yourself feeling a sense of urgency that is so great it chokes off your ability to think of anything else. It does not feel good to be at your wit’s end and you just don’t know which way to turn.

Have you ever experienced this?

I know I certainly have. There have been times in my life where I’ve been so stressed out over the situation at hand that I literally could not find my way out of a paper bag. To those around me I probably looked like a stressed out mouse running aimlessly through a maze trying to find the cheese. Where’s the friggin’ cheese?!?!

I have experienced this frantic state of desperation as an employee when I was desperately searching for a way out of a toxic situation (and I do mean any way out…). I have felt this as a business owner when I embarked on a whole new world as entrepreneur which no amount of working for an employer can prepare you for.

What I know for sure is that this state of being felt awful. Truly awful … like there were guns to my head and my very existence was at stake.

What I also know for sure is that from this frantic, frazzled space it was literally impossible for me to make wise decisions. Sure I could make shoot-from-the hip, wild-ass, panic choices, but they felt like and resulting in something more akin to a cartoon character firing their pistol randomly in the air. Far from effective and to some degree downright dangerous.

So, if this speaks to you, what can you do?

Honor and acknowledge that your feelings are real.
No matter how many people may tell you to calm down, think more positively or that things are not that bad, it doesn’t change your inner experience. If anything it makes you want to lunge at these people and poke their eyes out with a spoon.

Go beyond the feelings to get at what is real.
While your feelings are real they don’t have to toss you about like a ship on a stormy sea. Beneath the blustery emotions is a deeper concern, what you make a situation mean about you and about your future. By mining the gold in the dark you will start to see that you have choices.

Stop. Get Quiet. Tune In.
With this newfound information it is now time to sit with it. When you are in panic mode the absolute best thing you can do is stop. Literally stop. Go somewhere quiet. Sit still. Connect with nature. Whatever it takes, take time to still the choppy waters so you can listen to your own inner wisdom.

Consciously Choose.
Conscious choices are wise choices. Know that you always have choices (even if you’re not thrilled with what is on the choice menu) and that by consciously choosing your next step, even the tiniest baby step you are on your way toward what you want instead of fueling the fires of what you don’t want.

Good, powerful, wise choices do not flow from a state of desperation and panic. In fact most times choices made from this state result in even more intense frustration and pain a little further down the road (even if initially a panic-induced choice takes the edge off your pain). Give yourself the gift of honoring the experience you are having right now by loving the person you are even more and taking the necessary steps to douse the flames of panic and allow more conscious choices to rise into your awareness.