Summer is officially here on the East Coast! To celebrate, I was able to get away to the beach this weekend with a group of long-time buddies.  Per tradition, we took a power boat out on the water for a mid-day cruise around the bay.  As we headed north toward Bethany Beach, the boat cruised effortlessly through the channel and we seemed to levitate above the water.  The temperature was perfect, the sky was a brilliant azure blue, and the sun melted away all our worries.  It seemed as though it would never end.  But as we turned south, toward home, there was a remarkable change in conditions.  The boat was fighting against the choppy waves, the temperature dropped by 20 degrees and the spray kicked up from the increasingly hostile surf.  A simple reversal against the bay wind had turned a relaxing trip into a monumental struggle.  As we labored toward the shore, all I wanted to do was recapture the feeling of comfort and relaxation experienced just seconds ago.

In the same way, when the wind is at our back in our personal and professional lives, it seems it will last forever.  Everything we do is successful, effortless and just plain fun.  Relationships feel closer, work decisions are smarter, clients are in your corner and the feeling of optimism and accomplishment fills your life.  Everyone experiences these joyful times and they should be celebrated and appreciated (Remember, Be present in the present!)  Understand that feeling will not last forever and soak in the good fortune.  The winds can change just as quickly and you must be prepared to deal with the consequences.  Suddenly, a friendly relationship can turn adversarial.   A key decision at work turns out to have negative consequences and you begin to question your judgment and clarity.   Or a small tragedy in your business or personal life can suddenly impact your outlook on life.  What was once calm and effortless is now basked in chaos.  How can we reverse course and let the wind carry us back to that happy place?

My son has a bracelet from one of his favorite teachers that simply reads:”90%”.  That is a homage to the old cliché: “Life is 10 Percent What Happens to You and 90 Percent How You React to It”.  We will all experience tragedies.  We will all make mistakes.  We will all suffer those moments of feeling isolated and ashamed.  What are you going to do to reverse the wind?  It is not easy but you must recognize this is not the time to feel like a victim, give up, or curl into a ball.  The world needs you!  In every tragedy or setback, there is a positive outcome you can take with you.  Your relationships will be tested but it will allow you to realize who is important in your life and who will always be there for you.  Lean on these relationships!  Your business skills may fail you, but you will learn from your mistakes and become a smarter and more confident leader.  Your co-workers will support you!   As long as you can come back stronger from a setback or tragedy, that experience is actually a blessing.  How are you going to react to a sudden change in fortune?  The reality is that you control the direction of the wind.  If you react as if it is in your face all the time, you will struggle.  If you recognize the wind is at your back and there is some good to come from a setback, you simply cannot lose.  The choice is yours.  Be resilient!

 May the wind always be at your back.  May the sun shine warmly upon your face.  –Old Irish Blessing

Focus on the important things in your life.  That will give you strength.   Good times are ahead.  Remember, the wind is always at your back.

Until next week, keep smiling!