It’s Okay to Just Be Okay
I am noticing a trend in the Executive Coaching work I do where leaders who are normally intensely focused on the next thing and always striving for more, have hit a lull.
There is nothing wrong with them. Their performance isn’t suffering, yet they aren’t feeling particularly inspired to go guns ablazing onto the next project or career move. And, this lack of goal-setting and intense desire to strive is feeling very weird to them. It is hard to put a finger on what’s ‘wrong,’ except leaders are reporting feeling just “okay.”
I must admit, I am in this same boat myself. Work is great. I absolutely love coaching clients and spending time with my daughters. Yet, I feel something is different.
Normally, I am very focused on goals and growth. Now, I am in the zone of taking life more day to day. Ironically, I am in the strongest place ever in my career. My strategy? I am trusting myself and being open to what the universe has in store for me. I am not pushing myself as hard.
What has caused this feeling of being ‘just okay’ amongst some leaders?
I think a lot of it has to do with the pandemic. Many people had a chance to reflect on what is most important to them. This may have led to some shifts. We have also had to change gears so many times in the way we work that I think we have adopted a more cautious, steadfast leadership approach. And let’s not forget the fatigue. We are tired. We have been through a lot of change, stress, and uncertainty and have done an amazing job navigating our organizations through this period. But, this sort of maneuvering over a several-year span wears us down. As a means of survival, we have found ourselves in this place of being "okay.” We just don’t have the energy for more. And guess what? That is okay.
Keep in mind that being okay is NOT the same as feeling unhappy in your current situation or that you have a calling in a different direction. Those are very real issues and need to be worked through the same as they would if they popped up at any point in your life. Life and career shifts are still something I work through with my coaching clients regularly.
What I am talking about in this article is the feeling that driven people may have traditionally experienced of constantly striving for more has now softened. There is a settledness in this feeling, yet it may be strange for those experiencing it, so they may wonder what is wrong with them. The short answer. Nothing.
My advice if you also find yourself here.
Cut yourself some slack. Don’t waste precious energy beating yourself up wanting to get back to your old way of being or thinking. You are not in that space right now and it is a waste of time to try to be somewhere you are not. There is something important for you in this new space. It likely won’t last forever so be with yourself where you are at.
Exercise. Regular exercise is a great way to bring energy to the body, but also helps balance out unsettled emotions and thoughts.
Talk to others. I find when we feel we are not alone in a situation, it allows us to feel more normal. And for some reason, feeling normal makes us feel good. As if we are charting the same as others in life and not out on an island by ourselves.
Embrace the “Now” you. Maybe over the past few years, you have learned some important things about yourself and this is still settling within you. Reflect on what part of being okay feels healthy and good for you. Don’t let your fears of falling behind or never reaching your true potential eat away at you. Growth is still happening within you. Just in a different way.
Approaching life and work with a more balanced, and less fear-based approach will lead you to accomplish things in your life beyond your wildest dreams. Be patient with yourselves and see how this plays out in the long game!
For more information on Executive Coaching with Carey-Ann, visit Potential Unlimited’s Web site.
