We have all been there before. We go into a new year, a new opportunity, or a new season, and things don’t go as we expected. We not only expected better results or a more favorable outcome, but we sure didn’t anticipate the adversity that we ran into.
Progress is harder than we anticipated, and we begin to doubt. We start questioning our ability, our worth, and sometimes even questioning if we are doing the right thing. As things start to spiral out of control, we begin to question everything.
Mindset is a powerful factor in our lives. Our thoughts aren’t necessarily a problem, but the thoughts we believe can become a challenge to overcome. Those thoughts that we dwell on and believe can impact our physical, emotional, and mental health. Those thoughts can also negatively impact our performance.
We tighten up physically, close off relationally, and lose our poise emotionally. Those negative thoughts also take over mentally.
We press harder and things just get worse. We find ourselves spiraling and not sure how to turn things around.
We need a timeout! We need a pause to get a mental reset.
Paul talks about this very issue in Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”.
The world will tell us that we are falling short, not measuring up, or aren’t worthy. The world will chant “overrated”, whisper “you don’t belong”, or remind you of all your past failures. The world will throw unhealthy comparisons at you, confront you with the old “fairness” argument, and discourage you at every corner.
However, that timeout can provide an opportunity for transformation that the Apostle Paul refers to in Romans. Taking that timeout allows us to get a mental reset that can change everything.
We think of timeouts primarily in athletics, but the same concept holds true in every aspect of life. Coaches call a timeout in sports for various reasons. Timeouts are used to regroup if things are going badly, to provide instruction when coaching is needed, to conserve time when the clock is running out, and to provide rest when the team is weary.
We don’t have to wait for things to spiral out of control before we take a timeout. Those resets are needed from time to time for individuals, business organizations, teams, and families.
Those timeouts help restore perspective, remind us of purpose, and regain composure. Those resets allow us to clear our thoughts, refocus our attention, and slow the pace to redirect our thinking and direction.
If unmet expectations are getting the best of you, maybe a timeout is needed.
If you feel the pressure building, maybe a timeout is in order.
Timeout: A pause in the action to allow one to regain composure, gain clarity, clarify direction, redirect thinking, and renew one’s spirit to continue.
Your timeout doesn’t have to be a week on the beach. It can be an early morning walk, a phone call with a trusted friend, a team meeting in a hotel conference room, or an organizational work pause in the middle of the week.
I’ve done all of those and more! I have used a lot of timeouts to reset, regroup, and renew!
Don’t hesitate to call a timeout when you need one!
Doug equips leaders to make organizations better. He has two leadership books available on all online platforms. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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