Handling the Unexpected

CATEGORY: PERSONAL

Why:

We can't avoid unexpected challenges, but we can prepare tools and mindsets to handle them.

Warm-Up:

We all have unexpected twists in our lives, like moving, getting injured, or meeting someone who becomes a close friend. Can you think of one really unexpected thing that happened to you, and tell us the story?

Exploration:

Most people like a good surprise—but how do you handle unexpected bad news, or a surprise that is confusing? More than the surprise itself, our lives are shaped by how we react. If we prepare in advance by having strategies in mind for difficult situations, we tend to make it through more smoothly. Our preparation lets us feel more safe and in control. Sometimes we might even find positives in a surprise that seemed bad at first. What are some ways that could help you handle unexpected news?

Additional Resources:

For an interesting example of a twist, share this video of Janelle Monae on the Jimmy Fallon show, talking about how getting fired from her job actually helped push her to follow her dreams of becoming an artist: