Course Correcting

Hello Dear Reader, how was your week?

I wasn't actually going to write a blog post this week, I wrote a post on LinkedIn instead and then realised that there's no reason I can't copy it to here in my personal space for my personal musings. You will also notice, that I've discovered the ability to use emojis on this platform so I'm trying it out. We'll see if I choose to use them next time... Plus, if you read to the end, you get a sneaky exclusive which LinkedIners didn't!

So here we go...

***Trigger warning - Pet ill health***

A BIG scary thing happened this week 😱 on Wednesday I thought my dog had died while we were out on a walk. When she regained the ability to move we thought she'd had a seizure. When we went to the vet it turned out to be an acute reaction to an irritant. 😥

Fortunately, she is now absolutely fine and back to her bouncy cheeky self, thank goodness. 🐶

The 30 seconds or so where my world felt like it was falling apart as I helplessly watched her suffer, reminded me of every time I've catastrophised something in the past which has lead me to inaction.

🧐 Will this experience mean that I never take my dog for a walk again?
❌ No, of course not.

🧐 Will it mean I'm more conscious of the things she might have an acute sensitivity to?
✅Yes, that is a sensible response, without limiting her to a life indoors. Just because something bad happened once, does not mean that it will happen every single time we leave the house. I can make a conscious choice to do things differently to mitigate risks. 😌

On the same day this happened, I was on a training course for a new certification. We were on a scheduled lunch break, I'd decided to take a walk to get outside, move and to give my lovely dog some exercise. Obviously, things didn't go to plan! 🙃

🧐 Did this distract me from the training?
✅ Yes of course it did!

🧐Once we'd spoken to the vet, organised an appointment and got her settled and calm again, was there anything else I could immediately do for my dog?
❌ No. Instead of pushing through as it happened, I told the trainer of the emergency, asked for understanding and got it. Once the immediate danger had passed and a way forward had been organised, I regrouped and joined back in with the course as best I could, keeping in contact with the trainer as I went.

🪞A couple of years ago, if the same events had played out, the result would have been different. I would have convinced myself that nothing was safe and I had to hide from the world forever. I would have either kept going with the course, saying nothing at all, squashing any form of emotion, or disappeared entirely and not finished it because of shame.

With internal work, these things have now shifted. I can consciously choose not to react, but instead to slow down and respond. 😌🤓

As a result of all of this, I can safely say that my priorities have shifted from WHAT is important to WHO is important before anything else. Focusing on the people (and I include my dog in that category, if you've met her she has a hell of a personality!) before everything else means focusing on emotional wellbeing rather than the tick lists of whats that take up time and energy. If I'd focused on my tick list this week, everything would have fallen apart. Instead, I focused on the people and we course corrected to navigate an emergency and get back on track.

And because you, my wonderful Reader are here on my blog, you get an extra special piece of information that I haven't shared on LinkedIn yet - an Exclusive if you will!

I am in the process of updating my website so things will look and feel different soon. And in so doing, I will also be offering a new service! If you've ever wondered what it is that really holds you stuck and you want to get clear on the things your unconscious knows about what makes you tick, then my new service is for you. I will explain more when then new website drops so keep your eyes peeled!

Until next time Dear Reader x

🤓 I am Laura, coach, trainer, process nerd and dog lover.

🪢I help people who tie themselves in knots with the stories they believe, by unravelling and understanding what the rope is really made of.

🤗 If this resonates, pop me a message at laura@laurashallcross.co.uk, I love to chat, alternatively let's talk properly and see how I can help you!