Life handed me some lemons… 🍋
My husband and I decided back in October 2021 to plan a trip to Mexico 🏝 for the first week of February. We knew there was a possibility we would have to cancel due to Covid, but we were hopeful we would be able to go. Traveling is something we both highly value…not just getting away and having time to relax, but the experiences travel provides to learn about ourselves individually, how we function as a couple in sometimes stressful situations, have an adventure while exploring new places, and see life from a different perspective.
But, my passport was about to expire and I had just sent it in for renewal. Long story short, my new passport never showed up, it’s still somewhere lost in the mail 📪, and by the time I figured out it was lost, I didn’t have time to apply for a replacement before our vacation.
If you know me at all, you might have guessed I have perfectionistic tendencies and a strong inner critic, so when I realized my passport was lost and we would have to cancel our planned vacation, I started to go down the rabbit hole of self-blame…
I should have known it was taking too long for my new passport to arrive in the mail.
I should have known to call the passport office sooner.
And then I stopped. I stopped and gave myself some kindness and thought about how I would support a friend if they were in the same situation. I asked myself…
How could I have known it had been shipped without a tracking number?
How would I have known to call the passport office sooner?
I realized didn’t have all the information I needed to make those decisions, so I did the best I could with the information I had.
Then, I coached myself through the disappointment of learning my passport was lost.
I journaled on…
What’s the best possible outcome?
What’s the worst possible outcome?
And I realized that I was totally ok with both outcomes.
We would be able to go to Mexico OR we would go on a roadtrip. 🚐💨 And I realized both outcomes were great because at the end of the day the goal of this vacation was to have a relaxed week away from our home exploring a new place and spending quality time together.
Maybe you’re thinking, “Bre, seriously, what’s the point of all of this?”
The point is, a year ago these lemons 🍋 would have thrown me for a serious loop and for days I would have perseverated on the “should’s” and how I “ruined” our vacation.
This year it took me less than 2 hours to process and come to a place of peace and acceptance.
That’s been the power of coaching for me.
If you’re interested in how coaching can support you in areas of your life where you’re looking for reframing and growth, reach out and let’s chat!
All the best and I look forward to chatting with you soon,
Bre
Ps - I’d love to hear back from you about what you want to see in future posts! Send me a message and let me know how can I bring value to you.
