Regrouping After a Failed Book Launch
These were just a few of the thoughts I had on my first book event and signing.
Cognitive distortions, unhealthy thoughts, non-compassionate stories, whatever you want to call them, I was having them.
Then, as I saw two of my friends I've known since high school sneak in the back of the room, I changed my tune.
"My first book signing is full of people I love."
"This makes my heart burst with pride."
"How exciting that I'm familiar with so many faces in the room."
It's so easy to get caught up in our own heads when things don't go the way we'd envisioned. Mind you, this was two days before the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Not to mention the event had shifted from one location to another, was on a rainy Monday evening, in a library whose parking lot was full of construction.
Being surrounded by people who refused to let me downplay the accomplishment of writing and publishing a book was exactly the antidote I needed to negative self-talk. Hearing my friends and family tell me they agreed with what I was sharing, learned something new, and were going to buy copies of the book for their colleagues and friends helped me to see my accomplishments through their eyes. When my sisters started posing me with my book (which, by the way, sold out) I was able to revel in the joy of holding a physical copy of the book I’d spent so much time with in digital form.
I'm sharing this because even though I wrote a book on coping with anxious financial thoughts, these types of unhelpful thoughts can pop up in all areas of our lives. And it's normal, human, to have them. It’s important that when these things happen, you acknowledge these unhelpful thoughts, and decide how true or untrue they are before you allow them to dictate your beliefs and actions.
Depending on where you are, I'm sure these are some pretty uncertain times with lots of anxious thoughts.
So I offer to you a few things that have been helping me with the recent COVID-19 pandemic:
Focus on what you can control and avoid the things you cannot. For example, you can't control if it's raining, but you can put on rain boots, a coat, and grab an umbrella before you go out. In the current world, we live in, that means staying home, washing your hands, and avoiding too much consumption of the news.
Connect with family and friends via Skype and text during this time. Give yourselves a time limit on how much you talk about COVID-19 and use this as a time to connect with all those people you've "been meaning to call."
Take in long, open-air walks. Even just stepping outside can be welcome right now. When I took my dog out this morning, I was in awe that the birds and squirrels were living their lives as they normally do, and it brought me some peace and helped me feel grounded.
Sending gratitude either via prayer or via text, email, and calls to healthcare workers, first responders, public health officials, and our military during this time. They are truly on the front lines of this and working overtime right now; they need our thanks more than ever.
If you want more personalized help on regrouping your negative thoughts and transforming them into positive ones, you may be a candidate for a 1-time power session with me. In these 1-time sessions, we dive deep on a topic or question of your choosing. It can be money related, but we can also use the time to just dig in on a particular story or thought that is holding you back. Click the button below to learn more and book today.