At Some Point, Everyone Needs Their Ghee-Ghee

Most of us had some special blanket, stuffed animal or pillow that was provided  in our crib and lasted through our early childhood (Some held on longer than others!).    They come in different shapes and sizes and they go by different names.   For my children, it was, in order, Froggy, Bunny, Taggy, and Puppy.  My cousin had a special stuffed bear named Ghee-Ghee.   But they all served one basic purpose.  Comfort.  When everything seemed to be going wrong, it was always there for us.  When we were tired, frustrated, furious, lonely, bored, scared, or sad, our “Ghee-Ghee” got us through the difficult times.  It seemed we could never go on without it.  But, at some point, we all outgrew our reliance on this comfort device.  At some point, we had to fend for ourselves and take on the world without it.  That is healthy, shows growth, and is a natural part of the maturation process.  But, no matter how old and resolute we get, there are still times when we need the comfort of our Ghee-Ghee.

Professionally, we all hit a rut or a streak of poor performance that causes us to question our abilities.  We lose confidence and think our best work is behind us.  Perhaps we have failed a test.  Perhaps we have lost a case.  Perhaps we have lost a client or a sale.  Perhaps we can no longer connect with our students or our players.  How do we pick up the pieces and move on?   The best way to move forward and stay resilient is to hearken back to the one area in which you are naturally gifted.  The one area where success comes easy for you.  This is your Ghee-Ghee!  If you are a visual learner, create graphics to help you study for the next test.  If you are more comfortable with research than courtroom trial, focus on building your next case in the library.  If you are socially gifted and adept at building relationships, focus on scheduling a lunch or social function with a new client.  If you teach or coach, perhaps finding innovative methods to impact the lives of your students or players has always come naturally to you.  Focus on your next innovation and get your mojo back.  A professional pitcher has one special pitch he can always use when he is in trouble.  He is confident in the release and knows, if everything else is failing, he can at least rely on this delivery.   The only way to recover from the difficult times is through action.  We all must recognize the natural gift that will get us moving in the right direction.

In our personal lives, there are times when we need similar comfort.  A broken heart.  A broken dream. Disillusionment with a previously held ideal.  What will allow us to feel better and move on?  Perhaps watching a sunset.  Taking a long run.  Putting your feet in the ocean.  Or just having a talk with mom.  Whatever it is, make it easy on yourself.  When moving forward seems impossible, find your security blanket and channel your inner Ghee-Ghee!

But we can’t solely concentrate on this special talent or security blanket to carry us for the rest of our lives.  There is a danger in getting too comfortable.  (See blog post: http://www.resilientworker.net/warning-dont-get-too-comfortable-in-your-comfort-zone)   At some point, we need to move on and try things that makes us uncomfortable.   In fact, success often comes from developing skills in something that does not come naturally to us.  If we are going to be well-rounded, we all should focus on those areas where we need to improve.  But in times of crisis, we need to get “unstuck”.  In times of crisis, we need to take action.  If finding comfort helps you take that first step forward, go for it!  If finding comfort helps restore your confidence, make it happen.

We maintain our balance, poise, and sense of security only as we are moving forward.–Maxwell Maltz