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In this blog I’ve mentioned Steph Schmidt a few times—she is an Australian farmer who is also a psychologist and she focuses on farmer and farm family well-being. Here’s her website—you should check it out.
Recently she wrote something that has gotten me thinking. She was writing about supporting ourselves and others when times get hard…and in farming, there are lots of times when things get hard.
During tough times, it is really important to validate the reality of how hard things are and not sugar coat them. Denying that things are hard just makes people feel invisible and small. But at the same time, we can’t just wallow in how hard it is. We need to believe that there is a way for things to get better. We need hope.
So how do we communicate both validation and hope during tough times?
For me, what is coming to mind is the phrase “Yes, and also”. When we come from a “yes, and also” position, we can acknowledge the current difficulty (yes) and at the same time think about how to add to and build towards a future where things can get better (and also).
Yes, input costs are getting really high…and also I can talk to a financial adviser to see how we can revise our budget.
Yes, things are really hard now…and also with the support of family and friends I think we can find a solution.
Yes, and also…validation and hope. How are you communicating yes, and also to yourself and to others during hard times? Try it. It’s a simple phrase, but there’s power in it.