Yes, I haven’t posted for weeks.

My guess is that the past few weeks have been, for me personally, some of the most turbulent for more than a decade.

Am I going to list out the tale of woe here? Of course not! But, being just far enough through it all now, it’s time to reflect a bit, and boil down a list of pointers that might help you (or someone you know) if there’s more turbulence in their life than they’d like at present. Here’s the top ten:

1. When things really do begin to kick off, sometimes you need simply to withdraw a little and sort them out. That’ s OK, and rather than being selfish, may well save others from receiving unnecessary fallout.

2. Despite point one, gauge the right time to re-emerge and/or ask others for help. There may well be others who, because of their prior experience or different position, can help more easily than you think. Just take care who you ask, how you ask, and when.

3. Keep focusing on solutions, and if they feel deeply and instinctively right, pursue them.

4. Accept that turbulence usually means that you’re breaking new ground, and allow yourself to make the mistakes that go with new ground without beating yourself up.

5. At the same time, turbulence (annoyingly!) usually presents the very best learning opportunities…console yourself that all the mayhem means you’re learning faster than usual, and this will all come in handy in the future.

6. Don’t expect more of yourself than you can deliver. For example, you may always strive to be cheerful. But sometimes, it’s especially crucial just to feel how you feel, and keep remembering that you’re doing the best that you can (even though it may be a different level of “best” to normal).

7. Keep counting your blessings. It sounds twee, but actually going through a litany of things for which you feel grateful, especially at night-time, is relaxing, inspiring, and a great help in keeping yourself focused towards that which you still have.

8. Try to think of radical change as an unusual visitor that shakes everything up, but can bring huge opportunities. A bit like the kind of larger-than-life relative who appears once every five years and turns the house upside down, but showers everyone with gifts at the same time.

9. When the storm subsides, pick through the pieces of the past that are still workable, usable, and in resonance with the new you…and weave them into the new direction your life is taking.

10. Think of all the great stories you’ll be able to tell once the dust has settled. (just like the posts and changes that will be appearing in this blog, now that I’ve whetted your appetite…)