Before I discuss creating a solid foundation for your life, I’m thrilled to announce I’ll be a part of the upcoming multi-author book MY MESS IS MY MESSAGE II, to be published by Soul Purpose Publishing at the end of the year!
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to join an amazing group of women on this project.
I started The Power of Change to help others learn to live their best life, regardless of their circumstances. My contribution to this international book will allow me to reach more people with my message: everyone has the power to transform their lives.
Even if you’re cruising through life, you will face uncertainty at one time. Having the skills necessary to overcome challenges as they arise enables you to move through difficult situations more quickly.
As I’ve often said, life happens, and no one is immune to challenges. Learning to navigate the ups and downs is the difference between surviving and thriving. I chose to thrive. I hope to help others do the same.
Laying the Foundation
One way to thrive throughout your life is to ensure you develop essential life skills.
According to a study by United Nations organizations UNICEF and UNESCO, along with the World Health Organization (WHO), essential life skills will serve anyone, regardless of age, sex, or nationality. They include:
Self-awareness
The ability to think critically and creatively.
Problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
The ability to cope with stress and emotions.
By developing these core competencies, you can better respond to the inevitable changes that come your way. I learned and practiced these skills throughout my education, but it wasn’t until I was a young adult facing a crisis that I realized foundational life skills are only the beginning.
Just as a house needs a foundation, life skills are the base required to help us deal with the demands of everyday life. But a home needs more than a foundation to provide refuge in a storm.
What happens when you face challenges that go beyond ‘everyday occurrences'?
The Adversity Toolkit
It wasn’t until I was 26 and faced with a health crisis that I realized my house needed much more than a foundation. It needed walls, insulation, a 30-year roof, and more!
I needed an adversity toolkit.
I needed skills to insulate me from unimaginable circumstances and guide me through life’s darkest times.
There was no book on developing such a toolkit, but that’s what I’m working on next.
It’s what I needed when I lost my livelihood due to illness, my confidence in the medical system, and my faith in the goodness of people. I could have gone down a dark path. Many times, it seemed the easier route, but thankfully, I had what I needed to develop and hone new skills that were not taught but required. What were those skills?
My Adversity Toolkit
Resilience
Perseverance
A Growth Mindset
A Mindfulness Practice
Gratitude
Self-love
Self- care
A Supportive Community
Faith
These skills and the foundational life skills I previously learned kept me safe in the storm.
Life is filled with disruptions. A strong foundation is essential, but don’t stop learning once the foundation is complete. Keep adding to your toolkit.
If you’re not sure where to start, start small. Consider the list of skills in my adversity toolkit. Which skills do you feel you possess, and which would you like to develop?
If you don’t think you can do it, consider one of my favorite quotes:
There is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
— A.A. Milne
Over the coming weeks, I’ll take a closer look at each of these skills. In the meantime, if you want to join a list to order My Mess Is My Message II, leave a comment, and I’ll add you to the pre-order list.
Until next week, be mindful and stay safe.
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Wonderful news! Congratulations Tracy! These are important skills that everyone should have in their toolbox 🧰