Surviving and Thriving Through Obstacles
So it’s September- the latter part of the year- and for me, the end of 2016 seems so near. With December around the corner, I feel it’s a good time as any to reflect, don’t you? I believe I’ve faced some beastly obstacles this year and on the flip side, I’ve also had some of my strongest achievements when it comes to personal growth. Somehow through all my setbacks, I’m still standing and thriving and that’s what inspired me to write this post today. Continue Reading to get ideas on surviving and thriving through obstacles…
This article is quite a tough one to write because I can’t be as open as I’d like. It would be great if we lived in a world where we could be open and share our weaknesses without people using our shortcomings as weapons to bring us crashing down, but we don’t. And as the saying goes, ‘It is what it is’.
But that doesn’t mean I have to be schtum about it all, this blog is called My Fashion S/ash Life for a reason and I find sharing some of my personal stories therapeutic. So here it goes, hmmmm, where to start, let’s start with defining what an obstacle is- the Oxford Dictionary states an obstacle as, ‘A thing that blocks one’s way or prevents or hinders progress’.
If that’s the case, I’ll narrow the obstacles I’ve faced this year to- applying for jobs in a city where I don’t speak the country’s language, losing out on my dream job in a fashion company at the final interview stage and my recent knee injury which prevented me from teaching a Naija Dance Fitness class (which I’ve wanted to do since foreveeeeeer).
With the first obstacle, I can hear most of you scream- then learn the language! True, true but as a wise good friend once told me, ‘Biki, you’re never going to be employed on the strength of your German.’ With this in mind and the added fact that more startup companies are setting up shop in Berlin looking for English creatives, I’ve faced that challenge by ensuring that I’m constantly sharpening my content marketing skills. This year especially, I’ve been extra keen on growing my network of social media and content professionals in Berlin and a few of the people in my group don’t speak German, so I find it interesting and important to learn their journey and see what I can adopt from them to strengthen my CV. Ps I will be learning German. One day. In the meantime, I’m taking digital and social media short courses ( ;
The next obstacle this year came in the shape of me coming so close to a job that I could almost taste the celebratory cheese cake I’d have treated myself to, had I got it. I don’t know what’s worse- getting an outright rejection from your dream job or sailing through all the interview stages only to slip up at the final stage. Either way, this was a setback for me. This one shook me to my core. How did I overcome it? I had to tackle this obstacle internally and externally. I started with picking myself up from the floor (literally) and convincing myself I wasn’t worthless because I had been rejected and then I had to actively work on the feedback I had been given to better myself.
Finally, one of the goals I had set this year was to teach a Naija Dance Fitness class that would last 1hr 15mins, however in the weeks leading to D-Day, my left knee began giving me a lot of trouble. Initially, the only solution seemed to be to cancel the class but instead I found a way round it- I did a Naija Dance fitness demonstration class instead with fewer students which meant less pressure on my knee. The videos can be seen on my YouTube channel btw!
You may wonder why I’ve attached Personal Style posts along with this particular blog topic. Well it’s because one of the main ways I’ve sought to overcome all my obstacles is to be creative via my social media platforms. That’s how I thrive. You may have a different outlet, I believe you need that source more than ever when you face an obstacle. Your ‘happy place’ may not directly solve the particular obstacle, but it can be one of the things that give you peace of mind albeit temporarily.
But I know it will take a lot more than being creative to overcome the above obstacles, I’ll need my family and I’m lucky enough to have had them through all my recent setbacks and obstacles.
How about you guys, what obstacles have you faced this year and how did you overcome them? Also whilst facing them, what did you do to keep your peace of mind?
Till Soon
Bisous
Credits
Floral crown- Stephanieverafter, Dress- Peekaboo Vintage, Sunglasses- Quay Topshop (old), Shoes- Tamaris (0ld)
