{"id":62208,"date":"2022-04-14T12:03:20","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T10:03:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/estherjacobs.info\/?p=62208"},"modified":"2022-08-17T20:20:22","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T18:20:22","slug":"what-if-everything-goes-wrong-inspiration-shot-april-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estherjacobs.info\/en\/blog\/what-if-everything-goes-wrong-inspiration-shot-april-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"What if everything goes wrong? – Inspiration shot April 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

What if everything goes wrong?<\/h1>\n

Inspiration Shot April 2022<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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When I was suddenly struck by Covid halfway through my writing retreat in Cura\u00e7ao, I realized how vulnerable my retreats are. Fortunately, I had been able to provide a lot of added value the first days and had helped my writers get started, but I felt powerless, lying in bed with a high fever, having to drop everything instantly.<\/div>\n
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A few days later, my father’s new caretaker suddenly left Miami due to family circumstances. While\u00a0my sister and brother took over caring for my dad, from my sickbed, I had to instantly arrange a new caretaker, something that we normally prepare months in advance.
\nOn the same day, I received a message from the new tenant of my apartment in Amsterdam saying that there was a mice infestation: I needed to solve this immediately, otherwise, she would leave. Under normal circumstances, it is already difficult to find a reliable handyman in Amsterdam, let alone from the Caribbean. Additionally, the Eastern European developer of my website had also disappeared; he had stopped working without transferring any information and could not be contacted anymore.
\nAll this had to be arranged while I was without energy, with brain fog, and without being able to talk, because I had to cough so much.
\nI know that sometimes my life seems like a dream, but sometimes it seems more like a nightmare\u2026
\nSo the theme of this month is: What do you do when everything suddenly goes wrong?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
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Survival Strategies<\/h2>\n<\/div>

The first option is to pretend the problem doesn’t exist. Stick your head in the sand and just keep going. This usually only works for a short time, especially when urgent matters occur that require immediate action, such as my father’s caretaker who just left. You often feel like the ‘victim’ of the situation: “Why is this happening to me?” That’s a very natural reaction, but it doesn’t solve anything.
\nJumping into ‘action mode’ and coming up with solutions has always been my favorite survival mode. And indeed I managed to solve all things 1 by 1. But that required so much energy!
\nAs always, I tried to look on the bright side: Didn’t I manage to find solutions for everything? Weren’t there many beautiful things in life? Still, I felt like all this must be happening for a reason; there had to be a lesson in it, a silver lining. So I tried to analyze the situation. But everything seemed so random and in such different parts of my life that I couldn’t see any similarities. Do you?<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Be with the ugliness<\/h2>\n<\/div>

During a coaching session with\u00a0Juna Mustad<\/a>, an interesting insight came up. We often use the ugly things in our lives as a distraction; by trying to step over them or by fighting them. What if we no longer use those events as an excuse to stay on the surface? What if you just dive right in? And ask ‘the problem’ directly why it’s there?
\nI tried this out in different situations, including my Covid. The ‘problem’ always turned out to be confused itself: \u201cWe don’t know why we are here either\u2026 Where else should we go? Nobody likes us, nobody wants us.\u201d
\nJust by asking the question, a huge feeling of release came over me. I didn’t have to fight anymore. In all cases, I found a kind of win-win solution together with ‘the problem’. For example, by asking the Covid to\u00a0coach\u00a0my cells to become stronger, instead of attacking and sitting IN my cells.\u00a0The virus suddenly became an ally, no longer\u00a0an ‘enemy’.
\nThis may all sound too spiritual, but it’s a good idea to turn things around, investigate and be open to an unexpected answer to an unexpected question. In any case, it works well for me.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Get away from it all<\/h2>\n<\/div>

What also helps, is to take a break; to change your location, perspective, and environment. If you stay in the same environment, you often get the same impulses, patterns, and answers. A new place and a different company can do wonders.
\nFor me, it was super inspiring to be\u00a0in Mexico\u00a0at ‘Dynamite Circle’, a\u00a0conference\u00a0of successful location independent entrepreneurs. Even though I didn’t have much energy yet, just being among like-minded people lifted my spirits. I got new inspiration.
\nDo you also want to take a break? And enjoy my renewed energy? Then join one of the following retreats:<\/p>\n