Let's Rewrite Our BUS Story for 2020
Take a moment and travel back to December 31, 2019. Do you remember that day? Do you recall what you were doing? If you’re like me, you were probably bringing in the New Year with family and excited about celebrating a new decade! Little did we know that 2020 would literally come in with a bang!
2020 has disrupted the way we communicate; the way we teach and learn; and even the way we breathe as many businesses and restaurants are requiring that we wear masks to enter the building.
Parents have now become their child’s teacher and educators are still trying to balance teaching their own children and keeping their students on track to being successful.
I’ve talked to several teachers and school leaders during this time who share the struggles of what teaching in the era of COVID 19 is like for them. Technology is no longer something we are encouraged to learn, but now something that is required, if we are going to be able to do any job successfully.
So, what do we do when it seems like our world is falling apart and we seem to be going down with it? This is a good time to assess our emotional and mental state as we write a new BUS story, finding the beauty underneath the struggle.
In my new book, The Beauty Underneath the Struggle ~ Creating Your BUS Story, I guide readers on a journey of self-discovery as they are encouraged to embrace struggles in a new way. Our struggles don’t define us, however, the way we choose to respond to these challenges do. The only thing we have control over is our attitude towards the events that are happening around us.
In the book, I invite readers to become the writers of their stories. I ask that they take the pencil of life, and put it to paper as they create their masterpiece.
I introduce readers to Five Writing Styles which are based on our energy levels and how we’re showing up each day. The Writing Styles are described from low level energy to high, and are explained below:
The Horror Writer- This writer is tied up in emotional energy of shame, guilt, fear, and despair- this level can also be referred to as the victim story, because these writers blame others, or situations for the things in their lives that they don’t like. Rarely do these writers take responsibility, therefore, nothing in their world is ever resolved.
The Drama/Action Writer -Like the name implies, this writer is driven by conflict and has a strong identification with ego. This writer’s anger and frustration will probably move him past the Horror Story, but his inability to take responsibility for the things that have happened to him will usually keep him from feeling empowered to take action.
The Rebirth/Awakening Writer -This writer is no longer a victim of his circumstances. He realizes that his life is ultimately a result of the decisions he has made. He knows that while many things that have happened in his life is not his fault, he understands that it is his responsibility to do something about it.
The Comedy Writer -This writer believes that life is to be enjoyed. He doesn’t take himself seriously and is not attached to the outcome, in other words, this writer understands that life is unpredictable and recognizes that the only thing they can control is their attitude.
And finally, at the top of the chart is The Love Story Writer- This writer loves self and others unconditionally, without judgement. He believes that if one person wins, we all win. When you’re at this level, you feel peaceful and relaxed, undisturbed by what is happening around you because you now understand that your perceptions create your world.
It’s important to remember when looking at these styles that they are not fixed, meaning we move in and out of these styles depending on what is going on in our lives. The goal is to think about where we reside most of the time so that we can begin to move to where we want to be.
Now take a moment to simply breathe.
At the beginning of this piece, I asked you to travel back to the start of the year. Capture the feelings that you had on New Year's Eve as you were getting ready to welcome in another year. Think about the excitement, the resolutions, and the dreams you had for yourself and your family. All of these things are still possible; however, your path to getting there may be quite different. Now is the time for you to write your best BUS story, as you discover the beauty underneath the struggle.
Starting Sunday, November 8th, I will host hour-long sessions until Sunday, December 27th diving into the principles from my new book The Beauty Underneath the Struggle -Creating Your BUS Story. I would like to invite you to join me as we prepare to write our story for 2021 and embrace our challenges as new opportunities. Sign up on my website at https://www.nikispears.com
Make it a great day or not. The choice is always yours.
With love and hand hugs,
Niki Spears