Beach

 

I must admit, I have a soft spot in my heart for advertising slogans.  While I try not to take them too seriously, there are a choice few that would make the Resilient Worker Hall of Fame.  “Just Do It”.  “Be All You Can Be”.  “It Takes a Licking, But Keeps on Ticking”.  “Guinness is Good For You!” (Okay, I slipped that one in…but it does prove there is truth in advertising!)  Anyway, Corona has recently surpassed them all with their “Find Your Beach” campaign.  The ads feature various business travelers and office workers reinforcing the idea that the desired beach state of mind can be achieved anywhere you happen to be.  What an incredible lesson for the Resilient Worker!

How often have we become so frustrated at work that we lose our patience and perspective?  With home life getting increasingly hectic, how often have we been tempted to lash out at those closest to us?  Now, it is more critical than ever to occasionally step back and find your beach.  Obviously, vacations are a great opportunity to re-charge your batteries and regain your perspective (If you are lucky, you can literally find your beach).  But too often, we return to our routine and the cycle of chaos and stress starts all over again.  In order to maintain our resilience over time, we need  to find some peace on a daily basis.  Your “beach” can be a physical place.  A quiet room in the house, an outside walk away from the desk, or a quick trip to Starbucks.  Or, as in the Corona commercials, you can find your “mental beach”.  Find some memory of a happy moment or peaceful place that you can journey to in your mind.  Is it hitting the perfect golf shot over the water and having it land softly on the green?  Is it floating down a lazy river with the sun shining brightly on your face?  When I was a child, our family would travel every summer to our farm up in New Hampshire.  In the back woods, there was a patch of soft moss surrounded by pine trees that was the most secure and peaceful spot in my world.  That was my beach.  In the early days of e-mail, I had a tendency to fire back right away after receiving an unprofessional or untimely message.  It never ended well and I always regretted sending back a response without taking some time to cool down.  Long before the Corona commercials ever aired, I soon learned to escape to my beach in New Hampshire before sending  a return message.    My mental journey to that place would help me deal with the stressful e-mail in the present and allow me to send back a much more appropriate and polished response.  Whether you find your physical beach or your mental beach, we all need a place to take a break from the chaos of our everyday lives.

Find your safe spot and your happy place.  Allow no one to penetrate your soul. —Anonymous

I recognize that we all face real responsibility and real pressure.  It takes more than just conjuring up peaceful images of sand and beer to deal with the stress of our work lives and personal lives.  But taking a break, stepping back and gaining serenity in the moment can be an incredibly powerful exercise.  It won’t magically solve your problems.  They will still be there when you get back from the beach.    But it will provide you the strength and optimism needed to address your present issues in a more professional and calm manner.  It may sound cliché’, but you are in charge of your own happiness.  Do not let someone or something rob you of peace and success in your career or family life.  Finding your beach is a tool to allow you to stay positive, stay motivated, and stay RESILIENT!  Let’s all take a trip to the beach.  What do we have to lose?

Until next week, keep smiling!

Rob