This week I am conducting a virtual presentation to a group of leaders about how to be resilient during challenging times. My work is focused on helping leaders present themselves and their stories with passion. But I get it, right now, given the upheaval in the world, in our community and in our businesses it is particularly challenging to find inspiration.

How can you inspire when you are filled with worry, sadness and fear? How do you build resilience when you are just trying to get through the day focused on your work; your family and your community?

And yet if we just look at the skills that build resilience: emotional intelligence; gratitude; and a focus on our core values and purpose, well, that’s when I find that inspiration abounds even in this challenging time.

And when we share stories from our past they light the way to our vision of the future.

Here’s mine:

I’ve noticed a pattern in my own life that reveals my own resilience toolbox. Each time I’ve made an enormous growth leap in my work and career - it’s been preceded by huge loss and challenge. Leaving the law to become an actor; the loss of a dear friend prompting co-writing a one-woman play about life and loss; and a massive recession giving rise to a business helping others share their stories with passion. The lows prompted a journey of self-awareness; a burst of creativity; and a striving to create meaning and make a difference.

I’m sure we can all think back to a time in our life when we stumbled or the world around us took us by surprise - and not in a good way. By thinking about how we’ve overcome those times in the past that’s the clue to where our resilience lies - the tools we used then, are the tools we can use now in the midst of upheaval to create a clear path to a future filled with growth and possibilities. Only, imagine that the future is…right now.

Outlaw Leaders lead with resilience and have an EDGE - they: Explore, Dream, Grow & Excite™

I’m an Outlaw Leader™ - are you?