Doing Hard Things – Part 4

Read Part 1 HERE.
Read Part 2 HERE.
Read Part 3 HERE.

Once I got back to our room after falling out on our rafting trip, I immediately got in the shower to warm up. I stood in hot water as it helped me stop shivering. I still wasn’t warm at my core, so I dressed in warm, comfortable clothes and got into bed and promptly fell asleep.

When I woke up, my husband tried to show me some of the pictures the professional photographer took. He looked it up on his phone, and it was small and hard to see. It freaked him out when I fell out. He wanted to keep reliving it. I, on the other hand, did not. I needed a little time.

I journal each morning and evening. In the evenings, I look at my wins for the day and jot down at least three. The night after our raft trip, one of my wins was “survived.” I also write down a few planned wins for the next day, and that night I included “healing.”

When you do hard things that don’t work out the way you want them to, it is easy to see them as mistakes or failures. I needed some time to clear my head and remember this, and journaling helps me do this. I know that mistakes are how you learn. I also know that I cannot fail. FAIL is just an acronym for “first attempt in learning.” As long as I keep learning, failure is not something I worry about. But what did I learn on this trip?

The next morning I woke up and took a look at the professional photos. The first few were great! We were all smiling and having fun! And then I started to lose my balance. This photographer was fantastic. He took so many pictures I could see almost second by second what happened. They were so high quality that I could zoom in and see myself. I could also see everyone else.

My son was in front and was completely oblivious. I was so grateful for that! He didn’t know I had fallen in until I was being pulled back on to the raft. My husband saw the whole thing. In each shot, you can see him trying to grab at me to keep me in. It was the guide that got a hold of me. She grabbed my hand as I was going out and tried to keep me in. When she couldn’t, she used her oar to shield my head from some rocks as I was going in, and then she was there when my husband couldn’t get me into the raft by himself. She grabbed me and pulled me in.

That’s what I learned. When I was in that river, trying to remember everything I had to do, feeling so alone, I wasn’t. Yes. I had to go through the challenge of being in the river alone, doing that hard thing, but I had support. I had others working to make sure I was protected and OK.

The Genius Paradigm is about being the protagonist in your own story. I use the acronym PROTAG to help remember the characteristics that help develop a genius paradigm. This trip helped me see how these characteristics, seen and evidenced in other people, are intertwined in everyone’s story.

Perspicacity – insight, discernment, perception. Both my husband and our guide expressed these characteristics to help me. I’m so grateful for my husband’s understanding of what I needed and how to take care of me. Our guide’s insight was evidenced by the clear directions she gave and then in the steps she took to help me while I was falling and when I was getting back into the raft.

Resolution – determination. My husband was determined to get me back into the raft and take care of me. The pictures show how he and our guide were right there. Getting me back into the raft (which thankfully WASN’T photographed!) was a hard job! They had to work together because I was dead weight. I barely had enough strength to keep hold of the raft.

Optimism – seeing the good. Loving me and taking care of me was an excellent way for my husband to share his optimism. Our guide took the time to compliment me on following her directions and surviving! I was so grateful that she could see that in me.

Talent – resources. I had resources like my flotation device and helmet, but I also had the knowledge shared by our guide.

Action-Oriented – being willing to act. I know if I had needed him to, my husband would have jumped in to save me. Our guide was there taking action each step of the way to keep us all safe. Even the photographer helped me by his action of taking those photographs that helped me see more clearly how much help I received.

Generous – giving. We need to share our genius. I’m so grateful so many were sharing their genius with me and helping me through a difficult time.

The morning after the rafting incident, I journaled about it. I was so grateful for everyone and their help. I was also appreciative of seeing them all with a Genius Paradigm. All of our lives are intertwined. For me to be the protagonist in my own genius story, I need strong supporting characters. And I can be that strong support for others.

I am a strong woman. Most people who know me will attest to this… when I put my mind to something, I usually can do it. But I still have my moments of weakness. I have the thoughts that come to me and try to tell me differently. One of the thoughts that is the most harmful is, “I can do this alone.”

I can’t.

I need help.

I love helping other people and supporting them. I find pure joy in it. But I have a support system behind me that is helping and supporting me. I’m grateful that they share their genius with me so that I can share my genius with others.

Are you trying to do something hard? Maybe it is homeschooling for the first time or trying to figure out your purpose in life. You don’t have to do it alone. Allow others to share their genius with you and support you. Your genius story is waiting to be written!

Would you like me to take a supporting role in your genius story? SCHEDULE a meeting with me! The first one is free!