While life for most of the world’s population has slowed and options are limited by current events, I have found the timing right to pause, look around, and take stock of where I am. This has provided me insight. That insight has encouraged me to refresh my business plan and rebuild my websites. And, as a result of that action, I find myself entangled in many technical “hiccups” that feel more onerous than the temporary situations they actually are. Yes, for me, in this moment, things digital, technical, and code related, have gone South.
The notion that things are “going south” has always amused me. This is partly due to the cartoon images the phrase conjures in my brain and in part because childhood memories of Southern travel are always hot and sticky. (These road trip memories are also graced with paper bags of boiled peanuts and bottles of NeHi Peach. Mmmmm! Thus not all bad.) Gone South. It was not until recently that I stopped to seriously consider the phrase.
If we are looking at stock market graphs, and say, “things have gone South,” the directional reference seems obvious. But the reality is that the notion of “going south” pre-dates market analysis. So, where does this term originate? Curiosity sends me on a search. Has its meaning changed over time? My experience shows me that even if I use the phrase with colleagues who are not steeped in my culture, even with those who have limited exposure to US idioms, we all seem to understand what the term means without needing explanation. Why?
When I dig just a little, the first early reference I find to “going south” is Biblical; related to the story of Moses and slaves in Egypt. Surprised? Perhaps not. But when I dig a little more I find the concept even arrives earlier, in the story of Orpheus and his trip to the Underworld. And from that in reference to Mycenaenan culture and invasions of Minoan Crete. Searching more brings me back to the directional point of view and the phrase’s reference to baser human instincts originating south of the waist. (Hum— are there any similarities to market forces to be found here?) Mostly, what I find is reference to arduous travel. So, do these origins in early civilization matter? Maybe or maybe not. What is truly important here is that there is a nearly universal question that arises when things proverbially “go south,” which is: what can we do about it?
Regardless of how it is labeled, the experience of getting stuck, figuratively or otherwise, is a shared human experience. Every culture, any mythology or tradition, one could look at has stories about being stuck. Ganesh, ubiquitous in India and well known through out the remainder of the world, is all about obstacles– stuck places. He is about getting one out of, or when it is important to personal development, getting one into a stuck place. After all, there are benefits to overcoming obstacles, intractable spaces or mindsets.
For me any territory where I feel my autonomy or well being threatened, is territory that is by nature difficult to navigate. I have seen the same in those around me. And, because often enough, going back is not an option, these stories of arduous travel, difficult spaces and times, often provide a clue to a way out. So what can we do when we find ourselves South of our comfort zone? I find that it is important to get a more favorable perspective. This is not always easy to do. It requires a mindset shift in the midst of being stuck. Here are the steps I use to shift my perspective when in the midst of a difficult situation.
- Take a break from what you are doing and slow down, or if you are not able to do that, ask those around you for a few moments of quiet. Take at least three deep, slow, diaphragmatic breaths. [This is not the same thing as hyperventilating!] Breath in through your nose slowly and breath out through your mouth, also slowly. These diaphragmatic breaths are known to have a calming effect.
- Next, step back, or step away from the situation. This allows you to consider your broadest possible view of the situation. Ask yourself what has really happened. Be meticulous and consider; was there something you missed? What are your personal or internal resources? Are there any external resources that can be applied to the situation? Are there other people that you know who can help? Doing this can often provide a eureka moment. (If you are having trouble seeing these things clearly yourself, ask someone outside the situation who has no investment in the outcome. What do they see?) I find this exercise of stopping briefly and assessing allows me to see things I have overlooked and also recognize untapped resources that are in the background. Frequently, this moment of quiet time reveals something essential to success: the path forward.
- The final step to shifting to a more positive mindset can really get you moving again. I find if I stop to assess the potential positive gains, that this is the ultimate positive change. Will it help grow or strengthen abilities? Will it increase understanding in ways that can be useful in the future? Will there be insight gains? These are only some positive outcomes. Positives that can often be unseen when in the fray of tackling the situation. For me thinking this way is like getting a kind of higher ground view, one where I can better see the advantages of the situation I am in. This can help you shift your mindset too. For me the more positive mindset makes effort to take action after being stuck more palatable.
Okay, so maybe you’ve “gone South” or you are just temporarily stuck in a tough spot. It’s fine, we all know that everyone has this experience. Pause, and breathe. Take a look around and reflect. Take stock of where you are and where you have been, get a broader view of the situation, and see the possible positive outcomes too. Then, only after you have improved your mindset, return to taking action. In the meantime, maybe enjoy some boiled peanuts and a NeHi.