As a small business owner managing the peaks and valleys in our lives can be an ongoing challenge! Now as much as we want to be at our best (peak) we know that adversity (valley) will rear its ugly head sooner or later, so the question is:  how long do you find yourself in a valley, and what are you doing while you are in it?

The time that you allow yourself to reside in the “valley” can be hurting you and your business. When we are not feeling “up” or good about life, it does affect our interactions with others from the tone in our voice to the expression on our face and the tension in our bodies.  These negative emotions can cause: loss in productivity; missed opportunities; emotional turmoil (decrease in self-confidence, self-doubt or fear).

Unknown to some is the knowledge that we all have the ability to manage and therefore change our emotions for the better, in the moment, at any time. Henceforth, social and emotional intelligence.

Here are three things you can do to get yourself out of that Valley a little faster:

• Define which emotions you are feeling and then question the validity of those emotions. Are your emotions a reality or a perception? (perceptions can be deceiving)
• Reflect on your beliefs about the situation. Are they your own beliefs or are you acting on the belief of others? If yes, based on what fact(s)?
• Take effective action now! Do not allow yourself to suffer any longer. Take charge of your emotions, and change your thoughts so you can escape from that valley immediately!

Even the most successful people experience adversity in their lives, the difference is how they manage it.

“Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale  1898-1993, Minister and Author