Take the plunge?
When life throws us a curveball, our first reaction is often one of shock and disbelief. This disruption can leave us feeling unsteady, as if the ground beneath our feet is shifting in real time – often, it is. It's okay to feel this way. It's okay to be caught off guard and to need time to process what's happening.
Think about a time when you were faced with an unexpected event. What were your first thoughts? How did your body react? Maybe your heart raced, or perhaps you felt a sinking feeling in your stomach? Maybe your thoughts raced across implications and work and changes and things that need to be done or might happen or should prepare for, all at once. These physical reactions are normal. They are your body’s way of signalling that something significant has happened. Don't resist or demonise them. Let them move through you.
The emotional response to a twist in the road can be intense. We might experience a range of feelings: confusion, fear, anger, sadness, or even a sense of betrayal. This can lead to feelings of overwhelm, making it hard to think clearly or take action.
Alongside the emotional impact, we often experience cognitive dissonance. This is the mental discomfort we feel when our beliefs and expectations clash with reality. For example, if you believed your job was secure and you suddenly find yourself unemployed, the disparity between expectation and reality can be jarring.
Cognitive dissonance can make us question our perceptions and beliefs. It can lead to self-doubt and a loss of confidence. This is particularly prevalent in religious and/or fundamentalist environments, where what you believe to be true defies the reality you're living. You can live like this for a while because it may not directly impact your employment or your relationships while you're feeling dissonant. Although the dissonance will wear you down, it will most likely be part of the catalyst of change. It creates a window of opportunity to reassess and reframe our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours. This process, though uncomfortable, is a crucial step in adapting to new circumstances.
This is a series about facing our proverbial (and perhaps literal), Twists in the Road, how to spot them, handle them, and use them for our advantage. Life can get twisty, and the key is to travel down that road, even when it twists.
Join me in the App this week - I’d love to see you there.
Liz Milani
Instagram: @thepracticeco
From this week’s series titled "A TWIST IN THE ROAD" with a subscription in the App. Hope to see you there.
