Introduction
When alone and lying next to my dying child in the hospital late at night, true feelings are the only thing I had to embrace. If you ever find yourself in that situation, you will understand. Then, if you decide to leave your loved one’s bedside for the evening to sleep in a nearby hotel, you will lie awake for hours questioning if it was appropriate for you to leave the hospital. No matter your adversity, when your situation is dire, your mind can become your worst enemy.
Have you ever been through an extremely difficult emotional journey, only to find out later that you could have overcome it in a more positive and productive manner? Listen, you don’t have to feel hopelessly lost when you’re dealing with a difficult life situation. In fact, wouldn’t it be great to have a resource that provides you with some direction? Wouldn’t it be even more amazing to have someone give you a sympathetic voice during your time of need?
Think back to one of your lowest points in life and recall how you managed to get through it. Do you remember if you learned any valuable life lessons? When you face new challenges, are you consistent with a structured approach to overcome them?
Trust me when I tell you, I know exactly how you feel. When it comes to facing adversity, your confusion, frustrations, and overwhelm are familiar to me. Those feelings are very powerful; unforgettable, in fact. They can certainly force you to question every move you make, as you wonder if you are making correct decisions.
When you are simply trying to make it through the next hour; the next day; the next week, the last thing you want is to be in a constant state of confusion and overwhelm. However, all too often, it happens. I understand! Nothing else matters in your world more than trying to persevere and be strong amidst the chaos. The mental toll adversity has on you can be draining. I have been there so many times; your pain, anguish, and fright are all too familiar.
It is important for you to understand, when facing adversity, your behaviors will tend to be held captive by your mind. Therefore, laying the proper foundation to overcome it, is absolutely paramount. If you are not able to think in a comprehensive constructive manner, and instead allow emotions to rule your day, you will continue to find it extremely difficult to overcome your adversities.
This book takes you through the steps needed to get your head in the game, before you even consider taking any action. It systematically shows you a five-step approach on how to get mentally clear. When your mind is clear, your decisions become more strategic and rational. Next, I lay the foundation for you to methodically begin formulating a plan to battle your challenge, and win.
Armed with a winning plan, I then show you how to execute it to help you overcome your battle with adversity. Understanding there are always key lessons to be learned when you face adversity, the final phase presented in the Change Navigation Model allows insights and closure for yourself, and those around you.
Adversity can wear many disguises. It can also trap you in complacency, only to leave you with your guard down and unprepared. Each time this happened to me, I learned from my experiences and thoroughly considered them. Over time, I repeatedly applied the positive lessons acquired. My mistakes were also carefully documented, so I would not fall into the same [mind] trap.
Being a man who has spent almost fifteen consecutive years in and out of hospitals, seeking constant treatment for my child, I have gained a lot of knowledge and wisdom. So it all does not go to waste, I bring it here to you, in this book. The Change Navigation Model (CNM) is my fifteen years of knowledge and wisdom, put together in an easy to understand and implement approach.
Typically, at the very instant adversity strikes you, your mind races, you begin to panic, and everything else in your world becomes a blur. It is extremely easy to allow yourself to fall into the trap of merely, holding your head down while trying to move forward. I used to do the exact same thing; just jump right on in and take each day as it comes, without any plan at all. Imagine, following a step-by-step proven systematic process the next time something bad rocks your world. The Change Navigation Model (CNM) has the power to take you from chaos to correction and from overwhelm to overcome. You can get through your difficult situations in life more smoothly. All you need is a resource at your disposal, written by someone who has been right where you are… many, many times.
Throughout the past decade, I have spent hours upon hours helping people get through the hardest times in their life. It has become my life’s work to use my experiences to aid in the plight of others… others, just like you. I have seen the best of what life has to offer, and the worst. Even more, I have been exposed to almost everything in between. Whether coaching families through adversity or businesses through chaos; or speaking at seminars on change navigation; or writing books to share my story or teach concepts, it is my ultimate goal to help as many people as I possibly can. I believe strongly in what I do and my message, as I personally share in the pain and celebrate the successes of every person I have been fortunate to work with. Life is tough; sometimes we all need a strong role model to learn from.
Aren’t you tired of blindly facing tough stuff? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to shift from instant panic to a proven coping process? Hardships are inevitable. No matter how clean of a life you focus on living, adversity will find you; it always does. Let’s get you prepared! Let’s work together to get you through it with an Adversity Attack Plan (AAP). Who knows, you might actually smile along the way.
Cheers,
Aric H. Morrison
