I think it’s fair to call the greater portion of 2020 a “tough season.” Wouldn’t you agree?

No matter what your story looks like I’m willing to bet you’ve had moments that have felt really hard. And while most of us have probably wanted to simply throw this year away and start again, I do think there are still opportunities for us to thrive in life and in business. That doesn’t mean we ignore the important things happening around us, but it is still possible to find joy in every season, including a season as wild as 2020.

The biggest thing that has helped me my entire life, not just in a difficult season, is remembering to focus on the things I DO have control over. So much of what has been handed to us this year has been completely out of our control, but the one thing we always remain in control of is our attitudes and our actions. 

We get to decide how things affect us. We are in control of the way things make us feel and there is so much power in choosing joy over sadness. That doesn’t mean I think we should never feel things like anger or sadness, but I do believe in our ability to change our attitudes once we have had enough. We also get to decide how we respond to people and circumstances. Before acting on an emotion, take a minute to choose your tone and decide how you want to handle each encounter as it comes. We are the only ones that can make those decisions for ourselves. Choose wisely. 

If you run your own business, you also get to decide how you show up for it. It may look completely different than it has in the past, but the choice is yours to make. Take ownership of that freedom and boldly call the shots on how you run and operate your business in a way that feels authentic to you. And don’t be afraid to get creative. These are unprecedented times. Things that used to work in business may not work anymore, so throw out the “rule book” on how things used to be done and pave a new path in this brave new world. 

And please, I beg of you, keep loving on people any way you can. Whether it’s your friend, your neighbor, your family, or even your favorite small business down the street, keep showing up for them. The more love you give, the more love you’ll receive. I swear. It’s Science or something. But seriously, show up for the people in your circle in the ways you hope people will show for you and I promise, it will create such a beautiful ripple effect. 

If all else fails, if you’ve tried it all to no avail, dance it out. There isn’t a whole lot in this world that a good ole dance party can’t cure, especially if you’re grooving to some Bon Jovi. Even if it only lifts your spirits for a few moments, it would still be worth it, right?

Dancing it out has gotten me through many tough seasons so you better believe I have a playlist on Spotify with some of my favorite songs. Feel free to check it out here and dance right along with me! 

Listen now!

Seeing so many people struggle in this season has been so hard for me. As an Enneagram Nine, the ultimate peacemaker and empath, I want nothing more than to just fix everything for everyone. I’ve been learning how to find my space online in this season and want nothing more than to make everything right. But we all know I can’t do that. Instead, what I can do is encourage you to set your own tone, keep showing up, keep loving others well, and maybe enjoy the occasional dance party from time to time. We’re all experiencing a season we’ve never experienced before. Our voice may shake, our hearts may be filled with uncertainty, and our souls may want to turn to sadness 90% of the time, but it is well within each and every single one of us to choose a different narrative and keep showing up in ways that feel honoring and authentic to our true selves. 

It is still possible to thrive in this tough season and I am here to cheer you on every step of the way. I hope you’ll choose to find those moments of hope and joy!