My Dad once gave me a book in my twenties that had gems in it that I still refer to now. The book is From Stress to Success by Xandria Williams. One of her tips is to “face the worst-case scenario and know you will cope”.
There is a similar line of questioning used in cognitive behavioural therapy that asks, “If the worst happens, what could I do? What’s the best that could happen in this situation? What’s the most likely to happen?”
When I decided to speak out about my burnout experience I went through that thought process. In my mind, the worst-case scenario was that no one would want to engage with ROW anymore, that my friends wouldn’t want to associate with me, and I’d end up isolated. So I figured if that happened, then I’d move back to my hometown, take up a local job and start again. Not ideal, but I could do that. Now, I realise that could sound overly simplified and there would be complexities, but it gave me the assurance I could cope.
Of course, none of that happened. If anything, speaking up has sparked so many conversations and opened up opportunities to engage in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
So here’s my tip for today – when you’re facing something challenging, using those questions can be a helpful way to process your thoughts. It’s a great little strategy to have up your sleeve to help you take proactive next steps. And of course, reach out to a mental health professional if that would help you work through this. Every little bit helps.
