Powerless

In life, we sometimes encounter a situation that we are powerless to control. Perhaps we or someone we know will become ill or be seriously injured. Maybe a faithful client will decide to take their business elsewhere. Perhaps someone we care about will make a rash decision about their future.

Situations such as these can throw our lives into chaos. We cannot change what happened. We cannot fix what's broken. And we are greeted with the stark reality that we have little or no control over events that are about to unfold.

We are powerless, and it is frustrating. 

We be careful, however, about how we express that frustration. Acting rashly or angrily can make the situation worse. A single regrettable comment or action may do unrecoverable harm to a valued relationship. Conversely, it we remain quiet while obsessing over what has happened, we may risk placing our own health and well being in serious jeopardy. 

It's important to remember that, while we may lack the power to improve a bad situation, we always have the power to make it worse. Resist the urge to do so at all costs.

So, what can we do? Where do we go from here, and what steps will lead us in the right direction? 

The first and potentially most critical step is to face reality. It's important to realize and accept the fact that we are indeed powerless in this situation. That is actually very difficult from an emotional standpoint, and it may take some time to reach that conclusion. However, we must face this reality before we can be of help to others. 

Once we accept the limitations of our own influence, we can focus on contributing to the situation in indirect ways.

1. Let the people involved know that you are concerned about them, that you respect their needs and their wishes, and that you are willing to listen whenever they might like to talk.

2. Keep your ego in check. Nothing will ever be gained by judging someone, confronting them harshly, or lashing out in any way.

3. Improve yourself. If, for example, you find that are losing business because you haven't kept pace with your competition, realize that you'll need to invest time and effort into improving what you have to offer. Strive to be the best person that you can be. Self improvement may not help to salvage the current situation, but it will pay dividends down the road.

4. Seek the help that you need. Do you need counseling to deal with the stress of a major life change? Make the call. Do you need training to improve your professional skill set? Sign up. Do you need to hire or partner with someone to invigorate your business? Start having those discussions today.

5. Look at the bright side. Good things really do come out of bad situations. It happens on the time. Ponder this question: "In what ways might this situation bring positive change to my life, even if that is hard to imagine at this time?"

6. Seek new opportunities and avenues of fulfillment. We shouldn't base our livelihood one one client or have our happiness hinge on the whims of one person. Expand your horizons and your social and business circles. Meeting the right people can change your life in a big way. Would you have met those people if you still felt comfortable with the way that things used to be?

7. Be productive. Idle time will be problematic when you are facing an emotionally challenging situation. Instead of worrying about things that you can't change, invest your time in productive ways. Take a class. Volunteer. Join a gym. Work on a project that you have been putting off. Time spent on productive, healthy pursuits will improve your mood, accomplish important objectives, and prevent you from falling into destructive patterns of behavior. 

Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved