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Inspiration

Stop, reassess, regroup

everal people have mentioned to me lately that by taking a hot bath or doing something else that
they've hit a wall. I've told them they're not soothes you. Take a moment to write an old-fashioned
alone. For the last year, we've been contending letter to a dear friend, or call a loved one whose voice
S with multiple layers of trauma and stress due you haven't heard in a long time.
to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines are rolling out now,
but distribution is uneven, which has added to overall • If you always do the same things in the same order
frustration. in the same locations, switch everything up. And take
regular breaks. Even small breaks and changes in rou-
If you're like your peers in the payments industry, you tine will add up to your having a lot better focus and
are a passionate, committed, persistent professional who energy during work hours—and afterward.
is accustomed to adapting to change again and again. So,
if your feet are dragging a bit, and you're feeling blocked • Pay attention to your self-talk. You may be running
from your usual creative flow, your first instinct might be a loop of negative statements about yourself without
to give yourself a pep talk and push right through it. even noticing it. Remind yourself that these are just
old garbage passing through that have nothing to do
I suggest that you stop what you're doing and instead take with who you really are. Come up with affirmations
time to reassess and regroup. This is true anytime you hit that point you in a positive direction and use them.
a wall, whether during a global crisis or not. • Think of the end goal. Remind yourself why you are
Melt that wall doing what you're doing and what your ultimate aim
is. Then take a look at your daily actions and make
Once you pause your regular activities, here are several sure they're aligned with your purpose and aims.
things you can do to dispense with that wall:
• You don't have to do everything at once. Take one
• Sit back, breathe deeply, and notice how your body small action at a time, appreciating each effort along
feels. If anything seems unusual, or you're experi- the way.
encing symptoms that could indicate illness, check
in with your doctor. Chances are there's nothing to With that said, I'll leave you with this sage advice from
worry about, but a clean bill of health from a medical Theodore Roosevelt: "Do what you can, with what you
professional will be reassuring. have, where you are."

• If you've been stuck at your desk, get moving and nur-
ture your body. For example, you could walk around
the block. Better yet, take a hike in a beautiful locale.
Dance to your favorite music. Then pamper yourself Kate Gillespie, President and CEO

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