How do I get out of a slump?
In 2015, I fell into a slump that I never thought I would get out of. I completely lost my self-worth and all sense of purpose after I and several other peers were let go from our jobs due to a hostile company takeover.
My unit was deemed irrelevant and I took this to heart - a little too much. It got to the point where I identified myself as irrelevant. I quickly fell into a depression where my personal belief and value systems were shocked. My mind kept making up narratives that prevented me from moving forward.
Despite having a good support system and being surrounded by loved ones, I still felt like nothing was working.
As I desperately looked for answers to pull me out of my slump, I stumbled across one of those life-changing books. This one was titled Alibaba's World by Porter Erisman.
(Now if you knew me, you'd know that this was the last place I would find help since at the time I still couldn't find joy in reading. For me, reading was a tool I used when I was having a hard time falling asleep.)
In it, he wrote: “Today is tough. Tomorrow is tougher. The day after tomorrow is beautiful. But most people die tomorrow night and don’t get the chance to see the sunrise the day after tomorrow.”
As morbid as these words may sound, they woke me up to the idea that I just had to keep pushing forward to see the sunrise the day after tomorrow.
This sent me down the rabbit hole of self-development and helped me realize that I wanted to be the creator of my life rather than a victim of circumstances.
I eventually reinvented myself as a 'hyper-learner' that was able to digest and use any material that was going to help me achieve my goals. Each book, article, and youtube video I was watching at the time felt like it was making a difference.
I then moved on to finding utter joy in making a difference in other people's lives; first by founding a couple of food companies that promoted healthy eating and then finally into Life Coaching.
It's so amazing how answers to my biggest problems showed up in the most unexpected ways.
My decision to live in a state of service, curiosity, and openness is what I attribute to my sense of renewal. My second chance at life.
So if you ever fall into a slump, look for ways to make a difference - either in your life or in the lives of others.
Keep pushing forward,
Alex
PS. If you want to learn more about how 'Making a Difference' can change your life, listen to this powerful audio file by Steve Chandler. Download it here.
