I've been rather quiet lately. I've been in creation mode, completing a new business-focused opt-in gift - and all the tech that goes with it - for a giveaway that starts later this week. (Watch for details soon!) Sometimes, like the last 2 weeks, creation mode for me looks a little like a caterpillar in a cocoon.

I've also been dealing with an upcoming change in our family dynamics which is throwing all of us for a loop.

Don't worry, it's nothing life-and-death. My hubby is starting a new job that requires WAY more travel than we first realized. I thought we were handling it pretty well, but I realized last week that we're all more stressed about it than we knew.

It's definitely a curveball we didn't expect.

Sometimes it seems like 2020 has been nothing BUT curveballs...

But even in a non-pandemic year, we face challenges in our personal and professional lives.

So I wanted to share with you some tips for dealing with the curveballs.

1) Get support. You've gotta be authentic and open about your fears and your struggles to let people in and get the support you need. This is NOT the time to fake it till you make it or put on a mask and pretend everything's ok. (Sometimes I think God intentionally throws us curveballs to force us into authenticity whether we like it or not...)

2) Make a plan. Often this starts with step 1 - get support. Because sometimes you don't know what life or business will look like, and sometimes that support is PART OF your plan. Your plan should include little things (I'm switching from 5-gallon water bottles on a dispenser - which I can't LIFT - to a smaller filter-based container that fits in my fridge) and the big things (making a self-care plan and planning for emergencies). And let's be honest: sometimes your PLAN is to just hang on and get through it. And taking proactive steps, no matter how small, gives you a sense of control and hope that you need.

3) Hold to your core values. They say that, in the midst of crisis, you realize what's most important in life. I'm a firm believer that the best way to face most situations and make most decisions is through a lens of your core values. They are a compass and a decision-making framework that guide you. Plus, curveballs can really shake your confidence. Core values are one of the pillars that support your confidence and self-worth. (Read more about that here.) And speaking of self-worth...

4) Know that your worth does not depend on your performance. As a recovering perfectionist and overachiever, this can be a tough one. It is for many of my clients, too. We're so used to our worth being tied to what we DO. But your worth is based on who you ARE. You are worthy by design, and nothing can change that. Sometimes you just have to sit back into that truth and absorb it until you believe it with every fiber of your being. Whatever you're going through, it doesn't define you.

How do you handle it when life throws you a curveball? What are your best tips? Hit reply and let me know. I'd love to hear from you!