Show Up Despite Coronavirus and Other Obstacles

Show Up to Go Up

Ep. 9 Show Up Despite Coronavirus and Other Obstacles

 

In this episode, my dear friend, Myranda Stangeland, and I talk about how to learn from and keep moving forward to take action every day despite Coronavirus and other obstacles. We talk about how to find meaning in life and the balance between being a go getter and slowing down to rest. Here is a breakdown of our conversation...

 

01:25 - Myranda's Story

She is a normal, average human being with two daughters. She had her first daughter when she was very young which was a challenge. She went to school and graduated in 3 years while working 3 jobs. She then pursued a career in acting and now she's going back to school to study psychology and balancing her passion and growth with raising her two daughters

 

02:30 - Where did your passion for perseverance come from?

She thinks passion for perseverance comes from the Midwest because people in the Midwest understand you get great results from working hard. She learned that from watching her parents growing up. Her parents instilled that same work ethic in her. When you work hard you get closer to what you want in life and that's more meaningful than taking the easy way out. 

 

03:40 - Can you speak on how this scary time of Coronavirus is an opportunity to be the best version of yourself?

It's important when the world comes at you in ways that you aren't expecting, rather than trying to cling to what you had in the past, get very present. What is required of me right now? What can I do right now to get myself better? To learn a little more or grow in the season of life? Life is hard and once you accept that you can engage with challenge by looking at in the face and asking "What am I supposed to do here?" Coronavirus is asking us to engage in our world in a new way so what can you do today to face it and take action. Even if you only make 20 minutes productive everyday that makes a difference over time.

 

05:20 I love how you said this ship may be burning but I'm going to be successful or I'm going to go down trying

And who doesn't want to go down trying? People have a fear of failure which prevents people from even starting but no one cares if you fail or if something looks wrong or right. People respect your willingness to try rather than the result. You learn from every failure you experience. You don't have to have all the answers. What you can learn and understand from each moment? Success is gained learning and understanding of self. Life is a journey so figuring out how to enjoy it along the way is really important.

 

07:20 How did you learn to embrace failure?

She did gymnastics when she was little and always went for it so she learned to trust her body and she is more curious if she's capable than she is afraid. Over the past 5-6 years she's worked on bringing that fearlessness from a physical aspect to a mental aspect. It's okay to mess up. Everyone messes up. There is no such thing as a perfect life. Life is unpredictable so there is no point in holding onto one certain way that it should go. We're all always learning and knowing that takes the pressure off yourself to always be right and life is much more enjoyable that way.

 

10:12 You can be your true self and you don't have to worry about being perfect

Our structures in society contributes to thinking we need to be perfect so undoing those thought processes is really helpful.

 

11:00 Can you talk about how you didn't miss a beat with helping your girls home school when their school shut down even though their school didn't send out any curriculum or guidance?

One of the most important thing of being a parent is modeling the behavior you want to see in your children. She wants to put her and her family in a place of peace so once everything started getting crazy she left LA and went back home to Iowa to get out of the chaos. Her daughters school shut down but didn't send out any curriculum (she has a 10th and 6th grader). She know she had to be proactive and create structure to help her daughters grow and stay consistent. It's not worth it to let go of the hard work that you have already put into this year. Doing nothing wont get you any closer to your goals. We are very lucky for the structure and support we usually have on a day to day but now that the structure is gone, how can one engage themselves even when no one is watching or telling them to? This is an opportunity to practice having integrity and character. You don't have to be helpless.

 

14:50 What does it mean to you to show up for yourself?

She uses meditation in the morning to help calm myself because she thinks every parent is asked to do way too much. Also she tells herself whatever she gets to is enough. Finding purpose has helped her as well. How can she help others or do the things that she knows will be for a better, happier life. It's okay to gauge yourself and your energy and let that be enough.

 

16:45 Do you have any words of wisdom how others can show up for themselves during this time?

Number one - not having social media be your first check in because it often leads to comparison and starts your day of in a way that's not worthwhile. Focusing on the 3 most important things for that day has been a helpful practice for her - however big or small. Give yourself grace but also expect something of yourself. The world responds to strength and action so don't give away your power to create action. You hurt yourself when you choose to zone out.

 

18:55 Take yourself out of that numbness cycle and see it for what it is to help get through it

Some time I can never get back is when I'm hungover because I feel useless. Time is something you can never get back. Don't waste it. Even contributing in a positive way is meaningful

 

20:30 Finding balance between being a go getter and slowing down

It's amazing how much you can tap into when you slow down which is one nice thing that's coming from Coronavirus. The pace of our world is resting. If all you did is hurry from one point of your life to the next, what did you do with it? Are you a function of society or a participant in life? You only get one life.

 

22:40 What is a quote that you love or love to live by?

Great things always come from adversity. Always. Everything that feels like setback or challenge is an opportunity to grow and become a better person.