Have you watched Jaws? 🦈
Debra Searle had.
So when she was rowing single-handed across the Atlantic, circled by sharks bigger than her boat, she was understandably scared.
Any second she expected a terrifying crunch as the shark attacked the boat, before moving in on her… 😱
She told this story at a fabulous awards event I hosted this week, celebrating the 100 highest-performing employees across a huge global organisation 🏆🎉
But she also talked about how she turned this fear to her advantage 💪
On the bad days – and there were many during her nearly 4 month journey – she created a tool to help her through:
The “How Bad Is It Really?” Scale
➡️ At 1, the top end, was arriving safely in Barbados.
➡️ At the other end, 10, was her greatest fear – hearing that crunch as the shark attacked.
➡️ 9 was a hole in the boat…
➡️ At 8, running out of food and water…
And what she discovered was, however bad she felt at that moment (and things got pretty bad mid-hurricane in the middle of the night after 1 hour’s sleep)
– she still ended up at least a 6, usually a 5 on the scale.
When she put things into TRUE perspective, they were not as bad as she feared 🧡
This story really struck a chord with me – during all the family health issues we’ve had over the summer, I found myself sinking into catastrophic thinking on more than one occasion 😔
Remembering that now is all we have was, and continues to be, very helpful (as I’ve mentioned in these emails before) 😊✨
And I’ve found this such a brilliant addition! 😄
In my “now” – this moment, which is our true reality – these things that have been distressing me are NOT a 10 on my version off this scale. They’re not even a 7. Actually, they’re probably a 3 or a 4.
I can deal with that! And I can also be very grateful that they’re not lower 🙏
That helps me remind myself: right now, things are ok 🧡
Which quietens that catastrophic voice, reduces the fear – and enables me to keep moving forward in the best way possible for the task, and my mental health.
Why not try creating your own scale? 🤔
I know there are people really suffering out there, so everyone’s scale will be different.
But having a way to bring some perspective will I hope be helpful.
I know it’s helped me 🥰
Wishing you a positive, productive, and GOOD ON THE SCALE-filled week! 😄🔥💪
with much love, as ever 😊🧡
Kirsten xx
