Staying Productive through Disappointment

The title of my my blog is My Life In Order, but I have to admit, this weekend, I did not feel very orderly!  One of the things I enjoy most is ending - in a quick and unexpected way.  I learned this weekend that Clever Container is going out of business in just a couple of weeks.  Clever Container is a company I have worked for since June selling organizing supplies. It has been more fun and fulfilling and I was more successful at it than I ever expected!  I had plans for a long future and a lot of growth with the company, and it all just ended with one phone call. To say I’m disappointed is a severe understatement. ​

Over the weekend, I felt like doing a whole lot of nothing.  All my grand plans for Saturday got derailed when I learned this news.  I didn’t feel like cleaning, wrapping gifts, doing paperwork, or even spending quality time with my friends and family.  I really kind of wanted to just crawl into bed and binge on Netflix while eating chocolate, but instead, I trudged on reluctantly. I soon realized this disappointment was interfering with my productivity in a big way, and that made me kind of mad!  My future had already been changed by this news, and now I was struggling to do some basic tasks and to enjoy the things I normally look forward to. I had a couple of choices. I could be upset and wallow in it or I could control the things I could control in the moment.  For me, a clutter free house, organized paperwork, and a productive day are things that I can directly control. After giving myself some alone time to mope a little, I spent time doing things that had a visible impact in my house. I needed some quick wins to make me feel back in control.  Clean laundry and dishes, clear surfaces, and a to-do lists with lots and lots of checks were just what I needed!​

Even after this take charge approach, I still felt down, so I decided to break it down so I could turn it around.  Here’s what I figured out: I needed to identify what I was feeling and sort out which of those were rational and irrational and then figure out how to move forward.  Of course, I whipped out my journal because writing things down always help me process them. I’m no therapist, but here’s my list of feelings:

• Shocked - is this real?  Why so quick?
• ​Confused- I need more explanation!  Why? Who knew? How long did they know?  What could have been done to prevent this?
• Angry - it’s not fair, I was doing well and now there’s no future opportunity. I’ve invested a lot of time, energy and money, and for what?
• ​Embarrassed - should I have seen this coming?  What will others think?
• Guilty - am I letting people down?
• ​Sad - I’m losing part of my identity, losing something I enjoy, losing contact with people I like.

Next I wrote down part a Bible verse that most of us know “All things work together for good.” (Romans 8:28)  I knew this intellectually, but emotionally it was hard to accept! You’ve all heard the first part of this famous quote, “When one door closes another opens;”  but I had never heard the second half which is really profound,”but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”  Alexander Graham Bell, you were wise! Thinking about this, led me to write three words that gave me some hope:​

Reflect
Reevaluate
Refocus

Reflect - why did I choose to join Clever Container?  What did I like about it?  What didn’t I like? What would I do differently if I could?  If it could have continued, what would my success have looked like? What were the costs to this opportunity - financial, time, etc?  What were the benefits of this opportunity?  What could have gone better and worse?

Reevaluate - what are my true goals?   What are my priorities and how do my goals align with those?  What am I missing that is necessary for me to meet those goals?  Where can I get those missing pieces?

​Refocus - what can I let go of that is hindering progress?  what is my plan to actually do the things that will get me where I want to be?  What do I need to add or subtract from my life?

So far my reflection, re-evaluation and refocusing efforts have gotten me here:  Clever Container was fun and lined up with my desire to help others achieve their goals, but I’m fortunate to have my blog where I can still share my love of organization and productivity. Maybe this is the perfect time to refocus on the blog and other avenues to help people get organized and stay productive.  I get to choose how I will spend the time I otherwise would have spent on Clever Container - maybe I’ll start practicing piano more, start a new hobby or side hustle, exercise or read more (or find a new Netflix show to get into, go to bed earlier, enjoy more bubble baths). Who knows - the possibilities are exciting!

I know this disappointment is minor compared to many things others are dealing with like loss of jobs that is a primary source of income, broken relationships, sickness, or loss of a loved one.  I am aware that my direct sales business closing up shop doesn’t even come close to the disappointment and emotions related to these more serious events, but I do think that the same exercise may apply to help identify what we are feeling and why and then to give it the attention it deserves through reflection, looking beyond it with re-evaluation and starting anew with refocus.  The highs in life wouldn’t seem so high without the lows, so let’s choose to let our lows teach us and bring us up!

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