Life happens for us, not to us

How key is pivoting in our lives, especially when things don’t go the way they were planned? Life doesn't always go according to plan A. It rarely does. As an officer in the Army National Guard, I am continually making contingency plans. Resilient individuals can adapt to take the ingredients they have and make the best of them. It may not be perfect, but life isn't necessarily about succeeding with plan A anyway. God's plan for our lives is often much different than what we want and better than we could have imagined.

At the end of life, we'll look back and reflect on what we accomplished with the resources we had, regardless of the challenges we faced. Adversity can and will test one's character, resiliency, and courage. Moreover, it will either make or break us. So how do we deal with adversity?

First, we must train our minds to have a posture toward building our inner strength and fostering a growth mindset. When times are difficult, we can tap into the knowledge and life experiences we have and use it to propel us forward. I'm a firm believer in LIFE HAPPENING FOR US, NOT TO US. We can then take these experiences, that others may not have, and use them to dig deep to navigate through challenges. Remember, adversity isn't forever. Rather, it is just a season.

Secondly, we must develop and nurture a support system we can fall back on. This support is crucial to maintaining longevity in our lives. So many of us feel like we are supposed to go through our challenges alone, but this couldn't be further from the truth. “NO MAN IS AN ISLAND!” Romans 14:7-8 says "For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." Finding and settling into a group of like-minded individuals can be pivotal in showing us we aren't alone through adversity.

I recently faced some adversity that reinforced the belief that LIFE HAPPENS FOR YOU, NOT TO YOU. A few months ago, sickness hit my household hard with my boys and wife. After a few days of thinking I had avoided the bug, I began to feel under the weather as well. On a Thursday evening, my wife noticed I was exhibiting symptoms that were beyond just feeling sick, so she took me to the ER to be checked out. After a long night of running tests, I was sent home for rest. Although it was a difficult and scary experience, I learned a few valuable lessons.

First, don't be afraid to ask for help. Effective leadership always includes delegation, and delegating responsibilities can go a long way toward our mental and physical well-being.

Secondly, prioritize your mental and physical health. It's easy to get caught up in our daily to-do lists, but taking care of ourselves should always come first. Rest is just as important as accomplishing tasks.

Lastly, we can plan and prioritize all we want, but God's plan is always the best. The week didn't go as I had hoped, but the extra rest allowed me to think through areas of my business that could be improved. I left that week having a game plan to increase my efficiency within my coaching program because of the downtime I had to sit and think.

How can you take these lessons and apply them to both your personal and professional lives? Remember, LIFE HAPPENS FOR US, NOT TO US.

I wear many hats while in pursuit of my passions including serving as a Christian husband, father, Kansas rancher, men’s mindset coach, Army National Guard officer, consultant, and endurance athlete. I want to hear from you. What areas of your life are you facing adversity in? Do you struggle to maintain strength when everything around you may be falling down? Let’s have a conversation! You can connect with me on Instagram @coachjohnsachse or shoot me an email at [email protected] .