Unexpected Stop on Your Train of Life

Ever had an unexpected stop on your train of life? That abrupt moment when you have a goal or destination in mind, but your train grinds to a halt and there you sit? That happened to me this week and it left me wondering, “What do I do now?” It’s a question worth exploring as we enter a time of year-end reflection and goal setting for next year.

Let me play out the train metaphor a bit. For me, I was on a bullet train with an end stop about 15 minutes out. Then – BAM – someone dropped something on the train tracks, and everything ground to an unexpected halt. My head slammed the window, all my luggage slid up the aisle. People around me were confused and upset. That’s what it felt like anyway. None of those things literally happened, only in my internal headspace, yet it felt real.

For some of you, you’ve had this happen when you received a medical diagnosis or a phone call that changed everything. Maybe your company got bought out and they no longer needed you in your position. Or a best friend betrayed you. You had a plan in place and everything changed.

My situation was nothing that dramatic, and yet it threw me from my seat. If my situation was rough, I can only imagine what many of you have gone through in much more impactful situations.

For me, as I tried to wrap my head around the new reality and the new stop on my journey, I had to pause and get my bearings. Here were some things that have been helping me adapt to where I am now.

First, I shared my circumstances with trusted friends. They were there as both an encouragement and as perspective providers. They reminded me my stop didn’t mean the end of the ride. It meant a new stop.

Second, I have tried to remember that this stop is now an opportunity I wouldn’t have had if this obstacle didn’t block the tracks. It meant adjusting my end goals, but it didn’t mean losing sight of the end.

Third, I remind myself with opportunity comes choice. I have a choice to sit and complain and wonder what the heck happened? Or I have the choice to get up, see how others around me are doing, and even get off the train and see what this stop has to offer.

Before you get the impression I’m asking you to see hard things positively without acknowledgment of a train wreck, let’s make sure we pause. It is okay to regroup after a sudden, jolting stop on your journey. In fact, it’s good.

My situation was frustrating, but it wasn’t devastating. Some of you are facing devastating stops on your journey. If that’s you, I’m sorry you are going through this. I encourage you to take your time assessing how you are feeling.

Assess if you have broken bones to attend to. Ask – is there life-giving care you need? You can’t simply hop off your train and say, “Look a new stop – Yay!” You need to make sure you can even take the steps off the train. Do that first. Then, start a new journey of sharing with friends, keeping the end in sight, and seeing what this stop has to offer.

Life’s journey isn’t easy. There are lots of unexpected stops. Some of them are fun and whimsical. Others are traumatic and rough. When you find yourself in an unexpected spot, remember – the journey doesn’t end here. It’s a stop. It’s a chance for you to assess, regroup, and look around.

 

Vistage chair, keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant, Sarah Gibson, helps organizations leverage the power of communication, teamwork, and diversity to improve engagement and transform teams.

If you are a CEO or know a CEO who would benefit from a peer advisory group, please contact Sarah at Sarah.Gibson@Vistage.com. To inquire about her speaking programs, please visit www.sarahjgibson.com.