Finding Pockets of Opportunity During Fear and Crisis

How to handle the stress of uncertainty and disrupted routines.

To say that things feel different would be an understatement. To say that people feel unsettled would be the tip of the iceberg.

The past few weeks have built up to a crescendo of cancellations, fear, and uncertainty. 

So, what do we do when everything feels scary and unknown? 

This is the question that has been popping up in my private sessions with professionals and business owners and in my own household.

My partner and I are both self-employed. He’s a full-time musician who relies on entertaining crowds of people in person. I’m a full-time executive coach who works remotely with clients 80-100% of the time.

Anxiety and stress are not to be ignored. They exist to signal that we need to pay attention to something. When we acknowledge it and get curious about it, we can gain insight into a strategy to move forward.

When I found myself with a tightening in my chest last week when the news started to intensify, I asked myself “What do you need right now? Where do you need to feel supported?”  

It turns out I needed to breathe. I needed to laugh. I needed to talk to friends. I needed to come up with a plan to take care of my clients and my business.

This can become a method for you to create and capture pockets of inspiration and opportunity. 

Think about the following questions:

• How can I be of service to myself?
• How can I be of service to my family?
• How can I be of service to my community?
• How can I be of service to my clients/members?

When we can step out of the fear and step into curiosity, we activate a higher-level thinking, being, and responding. 

But what if the fear is paralyzing and draining?

Start with what is within your control. Make a list and start simple. 

1. Your breath 
2. Your blinking
3. Your swallowing
4. Your thumbs
5. Your toes
6. Your smile
7. Your ability to reach out to others
8. Your thoughts
9. Your actions

When things feel like they’re slipping out of control, go back to what is within your control and build from there.

We are in this situation for the long haul. Unlike a blizzard or extreme weather event that we can forecast and anticipate an end date, this situation has a … and question mark resolution. Now, more than ever, we need to own our personal power and control and create opportunities for levity, breath and rest.

What opportunities can you create in your new normal?

For my partner, he leveraged his online community and is organizing a series of virtual live concerts via Facebook and has already collected more in tips than he would’ve made for an in-person gig.

For me, I looked for the opportunity to educate people on teleworking and managing teams remotely, which is something I overlooked as a skill for 10 years and now see the growing demand and need for it. I’ve also scheduled virtual coffees with friends and family members to keep tabs on them and stay connected.

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Lauren LeMunyan is the Founder and Chief SpitFire of SpitFire Institute, a professional development and coaching firm based in Arlington, Virginia. Lauren is a professional certified coach and 11-year association executive veteran.

Check out Lauren’s next webinar (March 19, 2020 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EDT): Telework Preparedness: How to Lead a Remote Team

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Check out this Apartment Virtual Concert that Lauren and her partner Justin Trawick performed as an answer to a canceled concert! COVID-19 cancelations didn’t stop them!