What to do when the worst happens

It’s been a dark, dark week.

Metaphorically with the dramatics of the US elections, the increased terrorism threat, and a second English lockdown. And literally with the sunset descending at 5.30pm.

It’s pushed many to confront the brutal realities of losing jobs, failing businesses, and all the financial terrors that come with that.

I was planning to introduce you to Dr Bill Mitchell, clinical psychologist and author of Time to Breathe, in a few weeks. But, after talking to him I realised that we need him now. I asked him what he would say to anyone confronting loss at this moment.

His answer made me cry a little bit. Maybe you need to hear it, maybe someone you know does.

But Bill also calls on us to reflect on what we can do: I love this chart from his book and his point that, in crises, we need to take care of ourselves more than usual—not less.

If this short clip of Bill isn’t enough (don’t worry, he’ll be back on the vlog another time, he said far too much to limit him to one week) you might also want to listen to Matthew McConaughey on the Tim Ferriss podcast. His story-packed rampage around his new book Green Light segues into him reflecting on how every red light (bad thing) he has faced in life has led later to a green light that gave him a new positive experience. Even the death of his father.

And if, for you, it is uncertainty about the future rather than events that are making you anxious, you may appreciate this thought from an old man McConaughey spoke to: “I’ve had thousands of crises in my life: most of them never happened.”

Wishing you red lights that turn green or, better still, those that never happen.

Next week: hiring and onboarding in remote.

-Christine x