Everyone gets into slumps every now and then and if you find yourself in one, here are four things you should do right away to start pulling out of it.
1. Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
I know, that is probably not what you wanted to hear. I read once, “All depression has its roots in self-pity, and all self-pity is rooted in people taking themselves too seriously.” Stop carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. You are not the “General Manager” of the Universe. The other thing you can do when feeling really bad is this: make a list of the 25 things you are grateful for. (You have running water? Indoor plumbing? Your health? Seriously, it could be a lot worse.) A gratitude list is a magnificent way to get out of self-pity mode.
2. Stop comparing yourself to others.
I believe it was Mark Twain who said, “comparison is the detah of joy.” Thus, happiness is found when you stop comparing yourself to other people. If you are in a slump, comparison only serves to make you feel worse and gets you back in the mode of self-pity. The only time comparison is ever helpful is when it inspires you to take action. Are you motivated when you see the person next to you crush it? Great! Otherwise, keep your head down.
3. Focus on your activities.
In a Go for No world, we suggest you focus on your activity which means your behaviors. Can you control your customers and prospects? No. But you can control yourself and what you choose to do. Take action! See how many no’s you can get today. Also, avoid getting into constant measurement mode every second. (Graphs, charts, and numbers don’t change the longer you stare at them!)
4. Don’t panic.
A lot of athletes go through slumps, too. Shots that don’t go in. Missed hits. The more they obsess over it, the worse it becomes. Review this list again especially number 3. Do your best, execute on your actviity and then simply detach from the outcome. And then, reward yourself for that activity. As baseball player Hank Aaron said, “My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.”
Be patient. The days and weeks will pass and the slump you are in will pass. But the faster you embrace these four keys, the better off you’ll be.
Comments? Please let me know your thoughts. And if you liked this post, please share! – AW
Have you read Go for No! yet? Pick it up at our store here or on Amazon if you prefer. If you like audio books, you can find all of our books including Go for No! If you really want to learn how to implement Go for No in your life and business, take our online training and coaching course. Details here.