Written by: Karen Mc Dermott, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
From every negative situation is the potential for a positive outcome.
It is fair to say that the world is different from the one we were embracing pre-pandemic. As the ever optimist, I choose to see the positive through the negative, and I was one of the lucky ones who thrived through the upheaval. I took on extra staff during the past year! I am aware that this was not the case for many business owners. I have witnessed many businesses close their doors, relationships fall apart, and general anxiety about the whole situation ripple through. All we have seen on the news was COVID for an entire year. It’s hard not to be in a funk because of what we are being exposed to.
As a person who believes in principles that often deflect the adverse outcomes of exterior influences, I am fascinated to look back on the past year that shook the world to its core and to be one of the lucky ones who has grown through it. But is it just luck?
I am not blowing my trumpet here. I am simply sharing because my results can also be your results, and it has a lot to do with your thoughts and what you are exposing yourself to every day.
My tips for growth against the odds are:
Yes, keep in the know but do not become obsessed with news and other external factors that will impede your energy and thoughts.
Always be pandemic ready, become adaptable to current circumstances and trends, and creative enough to pivot when needed.
Connect with your internal counsel for the answers you need to guide you through. They work 100% in your favor and align with that you give most of your energy to.
Set strong intentions, stay steadfast in the essence of them, carry them everywhere with you, and be aware of opportunities and inspired thoughts that bring you one step closer to making them happen.
Know when fear is holding you back. When you feel it, honor it by identifying why it came up. If it is unjust, they set it aside and move forward.
Action-inspired thoughts immediately.
I study, write on, and publish books on success, and the thing that stands people out from the crowd is the perspective they have at any one time. Suppose you are feeling burnt out and a bit soul destroyed about your business when something like a pandemic happens. In that case, you may not have the passion and creative drive in your fuel tank that is required to evolve through it, and sometimes that means waiting, and sometimes it means taking inspired action.
Interestingly, and quite aligned with universal thinking, many people thrived in their personal life because of the break from the treadmill of life, the focus being on them, and the opportunity to look at their life through the lens of an alternative perspective seen many people adopt a life-is-too-short attitude. They focused energy on making positive changes to their lives which they were living more of because work priorities had altered.
The work-life balance has been more in the spotlight too. The collective perspective on success has now incorporated a value on self-care, which excites me. Even though I have achieved a lot in my life without compromising my core values, I always included self-care in my definition of success. There is a lot to be learned from this approach, and it means that there will be no need to burn out because when we care about ourselves, we won't let it happen.
Our generation has been gifted the opportunity to reset, catch up with ourselves and carve out a future that serves us personally and collectively, so let’s not waste the opportunity to clear the decks and grow through it.
I invite you to take a moment to think about what the future looks like for you. What is that you want out of life? Has your perspective changed over the past year? Have you made the adjustments in your daily life and, most importantly, your mindset that aligns with your new view? If so, then congratulations. You are on the path to aligned success, which fits you perfectly because we know that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to success. We need to find our way and do more of that.
Karen Mc Dermott, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Karen Mc Dermott is an award-winning publisher, multi-genre author, and TEDx Speaker. Karen realized her passion for the story after an epiphany led her to write her first novel in only 30 days.
Karen has built a publishing empire and is the publisher for many well-known, best-selling authors and aspiring authors alike.
She is a regular Forbes writer, and her signature book series is the Alchemy of Life Magic series.
Karen is a passionate teacher and runs her publishing academy, Everything Publishing Academy, which recently won an innovation award.
Her motto in life is 'When time and circumstance align, magic happens.'
