Now What?
Life be lifin. One minute you're sipping sweet tea on the porch of your dreams, sun kissing your face, future looking like a golden sunrise. Next minute, the sky darkens, thunder rolls in, and you're caught in a downpour, soaked to the bone, wondering where the sunshine went.
I remember when… nah, that's a story for another day. The point is, I've seen it. We all have. The rug pulled out from under our feet. The script rewritten in the blink of an eye. The dreams we held so dear, dissolving like morning mist. It can be a gut punch, a TKO blow, leaving us breathless and bewildered and asking, “Now What?”
The truth is, "Now What?" isn't just a question; it's an invitation. An invitation to pause, to breathe, and to decide. It's an invitation to step outside of the story you had written for your life and explore the uncharted territory that now lies before you.
As a transformation coach, here are a few things I can help guide you through when you find yourself asking "Now What?":
Keeping it Real: Truth is the bedrock, the foundation. So when the storm hits, when the world shifts on its axis, feel it. Don’t bury what you’re feeling. These emotions are like seeds. If you bury them alive, they’ll sprout in the darkness, twisted and thorny.
Resisting the Urge to Immediately "Fix" It: The primal urge, the reflex honed over generations – patch the tear, mend the break, restore the order, get back to “normal” (How many times did we hear ourselves and others say this during the COVID pandemic?) is often our response. But sometimes, the truest power lies not in the frantic scramble, but in the quiet stillness. Sometimes, mending demands a pause, a breath. Give yourself time to reflect and truly understand what's been shattered and what remains. Reflection isn’t weakness, it's wisdom. It's in those quiet moments, when the noise fades, that clarity emerges, and the path forward reveals itself.
Reframing the Narrative: People will try to tell you your story: A narrative of tragedy, worthlessness, failure, blame and paint what they see as setbacks across your path like shadows. But your story isn’t written in stone, it’s etched in starlight. So that thing that feels like a fall? What if it’s a flight path, a low dip before the soaring? What if that sharp left when you planned to go right was actually a redirection, a whispered invitation that forges the fire where your spirit is tempered, where your strength is revealed?
Seeking Support: Solitude isn’t always strength. Even the strongest oak needs the forest, the rooted community, to weather the storms. So, when the winds of change howl, when the ground beneath you trembles, reach out, extend your hand. There’s a community of hands waiting to hold you, life you, remind you that there are anchors in the storm. Seek the wisdom of those who have walked paths similar to your own. A listening ear, a fresh perspective, a voice that speaks truth to your spirit - these are gifts, treasures to be cherished.
Embracing the Unknown: The unknown. It whispers in the dark. Fear, clings to the whispers like a shadow, painting with hues of dread and doubt. But listen closely, beyond that fear is a symphony of possibility. This new world, unfolds before you and you are the explorer, the adventurer. Prepare to be transformed. Prepare to meet the most extraordinary version of yourself, waiting on the other side of the unknown.
"Now what?" is not a question that demands an immediate answer. It's a question that invites you on a journey of transformation. It's an opportunity to redefine your path, to create a new vision for your life, and to emerge stronger and more authentic than ever before.
So, take a deep breath. Acknowledge the unexpected. Allow yourself to feel. And then, when you're ready, ask yourself, "Now What?" The answers may surprise you.
