The Resilience Plan: How to Navigate Tough Times on Your Journey

There is no doubt that when you're building an empire and striving to fulfill your purpose, unexpected challenges arise. It's important to travel with your luggage organized and packed with the tools you need when adversity comes knocking. In the past, my luggage was missing essentials, and the journey felt more complex and delayed than it needed to be. Now, although nothing is perfect, it's comforting to know I can pull out The Resilience PLAN to help weather the storm. Here's where that PLAN was put to the test.

At a previous company, I worked in HR, where I watched layoffs happen department by department, wave after wave, for more than a year. I knew the process, and I knew I wasn't exempt. Each month, I anxiously wondered when our team would be next. It was a rough time, but I made it through. Here's what helped me get there, and what's stayed packed in my luggage ever since.

Prepare for what you can control

For much of my life, I tried to manage everything, believing control meant safety. But that layoff season taught me otherwise. I realized I had no power over the outcome, yet I kept trying to control it. Holding on drained my energy and peace, and ultimately delayed my growth. Gradually, I learned to let go of what I couldn't influence and focus on what I actually could. I knew that I would get a severance. I had a savings account. And my cousin's words, "You have somewhere to live, and you won't starve," echoed in my mind. She was right. I also leaned on the fourth agreement from Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements: always do your best. So, I showed up and did exactly that, no matter what happened.

Lean on others

At the start of my career, I kept to myself, and building relationships wasn't at the top of my mind. My office door stayed closed. I was there to do my work and go home, and my personal life was off-limits, classic introvert energy. But over time, I came to understand the value and purpose behind those connections, and how meaningful it is to show up for others and let them show up for me.

That understanding carried me through the layoff season. The relationships I'd built made the waiting easier, and we leaned on each other to get through that uncertain period. Looking back, it's clear I couldn't have faced that season on my own. We can't do life alone at work or in our personal lives. It's your relationships, the people who have your back wherever you are, that will carry you through.

Attitude is everything

If your attitude is negative, getting through tough situations will feel just as bad. That's guaranteed. Not every morning feels like a good one. Some days, we are bound to wake up on the wrong side of the bed with a bad attitude. That's life for ya!

During that season, I had plenty of those days. Moments when I didn't feel my best and the endless waiting and the not knowing wore me down. But I reminded myself that energy is contagious. Whatever I brought into the room, good or bad, would spread to everyone around me. I couldn't always control how I felt when I woke up, but I could control what I did with those feelings.

So I made a choice. I turned on Positive Patsy. She's not about pretending everything's fine; she's about choosing to bring jokes, affirmations, and just enough sarcasm to lighten the mood and get us through, even on the days when it would have been easier to let the bad mood win.

Never give up

I could've easily thrown in the towel. The uncertainty made it tempting to simply wait it out and stop trying. But I remembered my purpose, and that motivated me to stay the course. I kept doing good work and leaned into my passion for helping others learn and grow. My self-care routines were also important, including playing tennis, traveling, and living life the best way I knew how. Never giving up means accepting that, no matter how hard times get, you can choose to keep showing up and make the best of every day, one hour at a time.

The other side

Eventually, the waiting was over. I was laid off, and although it felt surreal, I felt content. Looking back, I could see my resilience: proof that I can get through hard times and always end up on the other side stronger than before. I gained wins, experienced challenges, and learned lessons that are necessary for the next destination. Years later, here I am, with a new job and a career that aligns with my passion.

New challenges will come, personally or professionally. When they do, I pull The Resilience PLAN out of my luggage to help me get back on track. Prepare for what you can control. Lean on others. Attitude is everything. Never give up. Carry the PLAN with you too, and let it empower and equip you along the way. We all hold the power to pick ourselves back up, no matter what comes our way.

For more positive inspiration, visit the Joy Vault and sign up on our website for updates!

Written by,

Tashi Payne