Member Blog: Build Muscle around Choice during Challenging Times

By Janice Cardinale, Chief Idea Hunter

We are all struggling, we all have priorities and we are all trying to stay calm while weathering one of the most profound times in our lives and careers. Let’s look at this and determine what the best offense will be for the majority of professionals suffering in hospitality, corporate events, destination management, venues, AV and too many other specialties to mention here.

Recently, I came across this passage in The Positive Dog by John Gordon: “We all have two dogs inside of us. One dog is positive, happy, optimistic and hopeful. The other dog is negative, mad, sad, pessimistic and fearful. These two dogs often fight inside us, but guess who wins the fight? The one you feed the most.” (John Gordon, 2012).

When I attended Next Level training in Columbus, Ohio, last year, the training I received gave me the tools I needed to feed my own positivity, emotional intelligence and muscle. I learned that with patience and persistence I was OK to make small daily choices rather than take on one big choice. This gave me the mental strength to stay focused and continue to make the right choices for both myself and my team.

Staying positive depends on our environment, the people we surround ourselves with and accepting the changes that we can no longer control. The way we go about our daily routines has taken a 180-degree turn. How we come out of this is anyone’s guess, but there has never been a better time to practice feeding our positive souls with hope, determination and love.

According to Dr. Brene Brown, “Love is the last thing we need to ration now. Hurt is hurt, and every time we honor our own struggle and the struggles of others by responding with empathy, the healing that results affects all of us. Don’t beat yourself up, lean in and build muscle around your choices so that your leadership helps others thrive in the future.” (Brene Brown, 2017).

The choices that our association is making now are thoughtful, and I am grateful to be an MPI member as we journey into unchartered territories.

Stay Calm & Sanitize On

 

Janice Cardinale, Chief Idea Hunter