Life’s greatest difficulties always happen right before life’s greatest breakthroughs ~ Billy Cox

Lisa Pickering
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Vacation planning now for a time when we are able to travel again

I was reminded recently that I should start writing again. More now than ever, people need to read positive messages. 

In this time of non-essential businesses being closed, being isolated from our family and friends and being exposed to so much fear-based messaging it is so easy, it is the default, to have negative thoughts. Worry and fear can consume us. The first few days of self-isolation I was very upset. I cried multiple times a day. I was scared and I didn’t know what to do, the uncertainty was overwhelming. I had conversations with friends and realized that this needed to change. 

I limited my social media time, I started watching videos with positive messages (like Message of Hope from Dave Ramsey https://youtu.be/z2Bq7gcB35M) and I started to focus on what I could take away from this time.

What I started to see, is that this is a time of huge opportunity. Over the years I have talked to a lot of people about their dreams and goals and when asked why they haven’t worked towards them, the resounding answer is – I don’t have enough time. We are in a strange time where we have nowhere to go and for most of us, we have more free time. 

I truly believe that coming out of this, things are going to grow fast. Having this time is a huge opportunity to get a solid foundation set to be ready for growth. I don’t want to be sitting here a year from now thinking I should have done this or that while we were self isolating and I had the time. Everyday I am focusing on something that I can get done now, so that when businesses reopen, we can travel again and we are able to be with our loved ones I am ready for whatever our new normal will be. 

I am taking online courses that I had the best of intentions of getting to but couldn’t make the time for, I am reading the pile of books that I really want to read but haven’t gotten to, I am cleaning up by inbox – which has been on my list for years and we are planning vacations that we don’t when we will be able to take, but we will be ready when we can. And one of the key things we are looking at is understanding how to get things done in a different way. In our business most of our team works remotely on a regular basis so we are fortunate that this wasn’t a huge disruption for us. That being said there are still areas that we are reliant on a physical location. This is an opening for us to further make improvements in the way that we do business. Our team is working on projects that will help us scale and grow, doing things that we were never able to get to before.

Everyone is in a different situation and what is working for me isn’t necessarily what will work for you, but there is certainly the opportunity for everyone to look at the fact that things have changed and how you can use that to your benefit.

Please don’t read this and think that I’m not worried, scared and sad. I am worried what this isolation is going to do people’s mental health, I am scared of the damage that these shutdowns will do to our economy long-term and I am sad that I can’t hug my family and friends. And while I have all of these feelings everyday, I try not to focus on them. I choose to focus on Hope.

In this stormy season of our civilization, it is essential to shift from victimhood to leadership. To lead is to free yourself from excuses, protect your positive focus and raise the spirits of all around you. ~ Robin Sharma (excerpt from The War Measures Manual by Robin Sharma )

26 thoughts on “Life’s greatest difficulties always happen right before life’s greatest breakthroughs ~ Billy Cox”

  1. When things are good, we tend to party. When things are bad we tend to ponder and that’s when real progress happens.

    We constantly need to remember what is most important in our lives.

    Love you message.

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  5. It is certainly a time for reflection, understanding and correction, Lisa.

    Your message of hope coincides beautifully with this Easter season.

    Thank you for your positivity!

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  9. TRUTH!!! I’ve been struggling with some things for some time and then the breaking point happened and the timing couldn’t be any better…. months before before Covid19. I’m just past the apex of my own struggles and it has prepared me for this pandemic in many ways including resetting my priorities and goals. I firmly believe we have a once in a lifetime chance to change our lives to an epic adventure if we aren’t already living one or gone off course. For me this includes inspiring those closest to me to also make their life an epic adventure. Thank you Lisa. I’m happy to see you are back in the saddle. Giddy Up and Write On!

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  10. This is a very inspiring message. This has been a time for all of us to sit back and reflect what is really important in life.Its so easy to get caught up in everyday life. Thank You for your wonderful post.

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  13. Thank you, Lisa, for writing this great thought-provoking and encouraging blog. I feel as you do, in one way or another. I also have things I can accomplish to hit the ground running when I am able. And…the hugs will be so wonderful to feel once again. 🙂

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