There are times when we aren’t at our best. Our energy is low. We feel mopey. Our motivation is zero. When that happens, it’s hard to move forward, let alone figuring out our next step.

Insight for deciding what’s next comes from the most surprising places. My inspiration came a while ago when I was visiting my colleague’s blog.

I left a comment on her blog…or at least I tried to leave a comment. Before accepting my comment, the blog requested that I complete an action to verify that I wasn’t a spammer or robot. It wanted me to complete a simple mathematical equation or identify specific objects within a group.

Dutifully, I accepted the challenge. To my great surprise, a pop-up screen appeared with a message saying,

“You did not pass a human test. Please try again.”

I burst out laughing and accepted the challenge. This was one discerning anti-spam filter. It took me several attempts to succeed. I finally passed. Phew!

4 Ways to Figure Out Your Next Step

So, how does this relate to my point? Sometimes, we aren’t up to passing the “human test.” We feel less than human. So what do we do when that happens? Consider these simple strategies when next eludes you:

1. Find the humor. In most situations, humor is there if we let ourselves embrace it. It’s OK to laugh at yourself and not take everything so seriously.  I delighted in the humor of the blog’s security message. It helped me move forward rather than get stuck in non-doing behavior.

2. Keep on trying. It took me more than one attempt to leave my comment. I could have given up when it didn’t work on the first try. Instead, I didn’t let one failed attempt stop me from pursuing a next step. Finding next often takes less effort than you think it will.  Don’t be discouraged.

3. Accept acknowledgment.  As humans we need to feel acknowledged and that we matter. It wasn’t affirming when the blog told me I wasn’t human. However, when it finally did acknowledge who I was, it felt great (as in doing the happy dance!)Acknowledgement is often bestowed on us, yet we don't accept it. Instead we make excuses about why we aren’t deserving of that message. You are deserving. Feel the power of that positive reinforcement. Let it nudge you to next instead of keeping you stuck in negativity.

4. Find a human. If I hadn’t been able to get past the spam filter, I would have connected with my fellow blogger to get help. Remember that you have people you can reach out to for tossing around ideas for next, for cheering you on when you’re at a low point or for helping you to get unstuck. You’re not alone.

I’m assuming that just by reading this, you have passed the human test. I’d love to hear what resonates with you? How do you approach next, especially when you've experience a challenge? Come join the conversation!

Holiday shopping, parties, and out of town guests…oh my! Those are some of the causes for our temporary disruption of balance and calm. Seasonal excitement and stress is evident almost everywhere I go. Some of us take off for the season to unwind and relax. No work or obligations. However, even the vacationers can experience holiday stress in preparation for taking time off.

I began wondering about ways to find balance during this busy time of year. While I was pondering, my gaze became fixed on the bowl of fidgets on my desk. This collection of miniature toys includes reminders of attitudes, places visited, childhood memories and more. When working in my office, I’m accompanied by uplifting thoughts and tiny toys to play with.

It occurred to me, that some of the messages in my bowl were a great starting point for restoring balance and adjusting that holiday season perspective. Maybe one of these will be useful for you.

7 Ways to Find More Balance During the Holiday Season

1. Optimism

Is your glass half full or half empty? Where do you lean? Shifting your thoughts to positive outcomes and possibilities can counteract your seasonal anxiety and stress. What fills your glass?

2. You Are Here

Locate yourself. Be present. Take in the moment that is now. Sit with it and appreciate where you are, whom you are with, and what you are sensing. Don’t past or future-think. Just be here.

3. WW

Access your Wonder Woman, superhero powers. These include superhuman strength, speed, durability, reflexes and longevity. Strike a Wonder Woman power pose and feel your balance, strength and confidence increase.

4. Try Smile Therapy

Smiling creates physiological changes in the body including lowering blood pressure, releasing endorphins and relieving stress. Have you tried smile therapy? Bring back some happy balance to your days by smiling your way through the holiday season. Watch some slapstick, put on your favorite comedy, or share a smile with a stranger. Mouth corners up!

5. Feelings

This can be a tumultuous time of year that brings about all kinds of intense feelings from happy to sad to angry to frustrated. Don’t judge your feelings. Acknowledge them. Feel them. They are temporary and will move on. Don’t let them derail your days.

6. I Like Big Puns

Humor is a wonderful way to re-balance a stressful day. There’s nothing quite as fun as laughing at silly jokes with your friends or family. My brother-in-law was visiting recently and showered us with his long list of puns and jokes. Even though I’d heard them many times before, I couldn’t help but laugh. How about this one? . . .

“I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.”

7. Sparkle

Let your inner sparkle shine, while appreciating the outer sparkle of the season. There’s more glitter and glitz this time of year. I love it! I’ll admit that I love a little sparkle all year long. Let the luminosity of the season remind us to focus on the bright spots. Take the path away from the frenzy towards the joy. Sparkle on.

Which items from my bowl of fidgets speak to you? What helps you bring some balance and perspective back to this full, busy season? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.

The importance of embracing life’s beautiful moments and periods of calm became even more appreciated recently. The last few weeks have been tough ones. After some wonderful, relaxing vacation time, my mom took a bad fall, ended up in the hospital for a week, and is now home. As you might imagine, when there’s an accident, family emergency, or other unexpected crisis, everything changes…at least for a time.

It’s not that we’re completely out of the emergency state, but that high-alert, going-to-the-hospital-every-day part has ended. Now, we’re in the emergency aftermath and navigating the necessary changes. During the high alert stage, there were a few things that helped.

I do not wish emergencies on any of you, but if you are in a challenging situation, maybe one of these success tips will help you. You might have one or two to add, so please do.

5 Proven Success Tips for Life’s Emergencies

1. Let Go– Remove all the non-essentials. Are there deadlines that can be shifted? Are there appointments that can be rescheduled? Are there goals you wanted to accomplish but are unnecessary right now? What can you let go of to simplify the demands on your time right now? You’ll need extra thinking power, strength, and energy to focus on the emergency.

2. Breathe – There will be many questions and decisions to make. Some will need to be made fast. Others are better made more slowly. Emergencies get our adrenaline pumping. If your heart is racing and you’re feeling panicked, pause. Take some long, deep breaths. Let the oxygen flow to your brain. Calm your system. Your mind will be more available to make better, calmer decisions.

3. Connect – You are not alone. Having the love, support, and care from family, friends, and professionals will hold you up when you are in crisis. The Westchester Medical Center staff was terrific. They took excellent care of my mother and also showed care and concern for the family. And I don’t know what I would have done without the loving support of my family and friends. Their loving messages, calls, and care packages made all the difference.

“Remove all the non-essentials.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

4. Return – While emergencies require more of our time and energy, it’s absolutely critical we activate the basics, like sleeping, hydrating, eating, and getting fresh air. Hospitals can quickly bring out the worst in us with the harsh lighting and our tendency to pump ourselves with large amounts of caffeine and sweets. However, if you can take some fresh air breaks, eat healthy meals, drink extra water, and minimize the sweets, your body and mind will thank you. You’re under more stress than usual, so make sure to “feed” yourself in positive ways.

5. Laugh – Even in the darkness of crisis, there is light and humor. Laughter can work its magic. It can lift your spirits and those around you to create a positive, healing mood. Even during some very difficult days, there were moments of laughter and singing with my mom. I treasured and embraced those. They helped sustain me through the rougher periods.

Other things helped during this time, like having a chart of my mom’s medications and health history and doing a few “normal” activities. The stress wasn’t eliminated entirely, but these strategies helped me cope better with what was happening.

And lastly, what helped me the most was taking one day and one decision at a time. I tried not to project too far ahead. Especially when there is an emergency, the situation is constantly shifting. It helped me to remain flexible with choices and options.

What success strategies have worked for you during emergencies? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

There’s nothing like embarrassing yourself to crave a do-over or fresh start. It’s often a minor perspective shift that helps us to reflect and begin again. How timely that my year started with such an incident.

I was ready for that first Monday back from the more leisurely holiday schedule. I woke up knowing where I needed to be and when. My morning routine resumed with my wake-up alarm, exercises, shower, dressing, breakfast and deskwork. To gear up for the day and week, I double-checked my schedule and list of to dos. The New Year had arrived and I was looking forward to the first organizing session of the year.

Like I often do, I set a timer as my auditory cue, so that I wouldn't be late to my client's. The timer rang so I got ready and left. The day was going as planned. Even with some traffic, I arrived at my client’s on time…or so I thought.

As it turns out, I got there two hours early. My client wasn't home. After some confusion (it still hadn’t occurred to me that I was early), when I realized my mistake about the start time, I explained and apologized to her gracious husband and said I'd return at the correct time. So much for the organizer being organized, right? This was embarrassing to arrive at the wrong time...the really wrong (as in two hours early wrong) time.

Next steps…laugh at self and find the nearest Starbucks. Having this unexpected block of time, I enjoyed slowly sipping a latte and writing this post. I used to write at Starbucks, but hadn’t done that in a while. This was a welcome change of environment. And somewhere during the latte drinking and writing, I came up with a few reminders that helped me shift my perspective and embrace a fresh start. I hope that the lessons I found would be helpful for you the next time you have an incident.

Linda’s New Year's Lessons:

• Mistakes happen.
• Discover the gift in those mistakes.
• Be flexible.
• Don't assume.
• Improve looking and listening.
• Find the humor.
• You’re human.
• Add this one to my bloopers reel.

Are there any “situations” you’d like to share with us? What were your takeaways? What helped you to move forward after an embarrassing incident? What allowed you to embrace a fresh start? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.