To say the last 18 months has filled the world with uncertainty will come as no surprise to anyone.

However, in the past week, I have had conversations with two different business owners around how to create certainty in an uncertain world.

Both business owners felt stuck as they grappled with the choice of whether to continue in business with all the risks & certainties that involved or leave the business for paid employment elsewhere.  They were trying to find a balance between the security of income to support the family by being in paid employment vs the uncertainty of income from the business but more flexibility to spend time with their family.

Here are four principles we discussed to help them make a choice about the way forward:

1. Keep things in perspective – Remember that what we are experiencing now is temporary in nature. It is important not to lose sight of the big picture.  To take every opportunity to remind ourselves of the business and life to which we truly aspire.
2. Be Self Aware – To be aware of the strong feelings the current situation is creating within us and how they are impacting on our behaviour. Be aware that we are in control of how we respond to those feelings.
3. Practice Gratitude – This period in our lives has provided the opportunity to pause and reflect on what we value and what is truly important to us. With that in mind, let us practice the art of giving gratitude to those things which we have and do truly value.
4. Managing Mental Health – The drastic changes over past 18 months and the uncertainty about the future has created high levels of anxiety, which is impacting on people’s mental health. In such circumstances, practice empathy & understanding towards ourselves first and then others by checking-in that they are OK.