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RosieCentral welcomes inspirational author Jane Enright to discuss her new book.
Hi Jane. Matilda here. I'm delighted to have you join us today on RosieCentral where we feature the lives of amazing women who bring inspiration to our own lives.
In your new book...
Butter Side Up: How I Survived My Most Terrible Year and Created My Super Awesome Life, you share the story of a year filled with hardships. Fortunately for readers, you provide perspective on how you found inspiration and how all of us can find inspiration from life experiences and create the life we want to live.
First, would you say a little about the background of your book as context for using it to inspire and change our own lives?
Hello Matilda: I’m honored and very grateful to be a contributor to RosieCentral. I wrote Butter Side Up because...
We all have moments in our lives...
...where the unexpected happens and we ask ourselves “why me?” Sometimes these moments bring us joy and happiness, and sometimes the unthinkable can happen which makes us question everything.
I had this moment happen thrice, when I experienced three sudden, life-altering events during the span of twelve months.
These occurrences made me question everything because if I had not done so, it would have been virtually impossible for me to move forward, and successfully navigate unwanted changes, advocate for others, and create a new beginning for myself.
The reality...
...is whether we like it or not, life puts us all through changes—some challenging, and many happy—that shape us as human beings and our day-to-day experiences. This is where the butter side up theory comes into play. As human beings, we tend to fear change, rather than embrace it —especially the unwanted kind. My experiences taught me that you can use strategies like a more positive mindset to not only successfully navigate unwanted change, but use change to your advantage, start over or salvage circumstances even when you don’t necessarily want to.
Butter Side Up: How I Survived My Most Terrible year & Created My Super Awesome Life is the story of how using my OMG™, and a more optimistic way of thinking, helped me experience happiness and joy, even during the most difficult moments, and inspired me to create a new super awesome life with fresh chapters and happy outcomes.
Jane, in Butter-Side Up ...
I was struck by your emphasis on the importance of doing an “environmental scan” of our lives. Could you tell our readers a little about that and why you think it is important?
Great question and thank you for asking!
An environmental scan is a tool that is frequently used by business leaders. Often referred to as a SWOT, the scan looks at the STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES and THREATS of a situation or an event.
The COVID pandemic is a perfect example of this. COVID is change that can change its mind anytime—it is unplanned change on steroids. Never in the history of our planet has the world simultaneously experienced such rapid, disruptive change at all levels and sectors including transportation, communication, education, commerce, health, employment and our daily interactions in our private and public lives. In other words, we are all on some level, experiencing this pandemic, some call it an endemic now, together.
Consequently,
disasters like COVID are often accelerators for change—both good and not so good. When this happens, it is important to remember we can step back and respond, rather than react to events in our midst and move forward as best we can.
Taking an environmental scan of our lives is a great tool to do so. For example, COVID can be looked at as an opportunity to accept that unwanted change has happened and rethink different areas of our lives. A moment to objectively evaluate what is working, versus not working, and any need to adjust our life circumstances so that we can still continue to grow and thrive and create fresh new chapters even during uncertain times. Framed this way---the scan becomes a catalyst for positive planned change—a reason for us to re-think and consider what is important to us.
Jane, I liked your explanation of SWOT
Another unique concept in your book is what you call OMG™. It would be helpful to our readers if you describe this.
Certainly, Matilda.
O = Outside-In Thinking
M = Mindfulness
G = Gratitude
Let me say a little about each these.
Outside-In Thinking Helps You Visualize & Plan The Route
Outside-in thinking helps you see the big picture. Being in the audience rather than in the play and “watching” your feelings unfold as a situation is happening. It helps you not get caught in the weeds of overthinking, or get caught up in the way things were, rather than the way things actually are.
Observing situations this way helps you set intentions that align with positive new activities and routines after periods of loss. Doing this will reinforce a more optimistic mindset and goals which help you visualize and plan for what comes next. In doing so, you can reduce fear about the future, and find the upside when you need it—especially during uncertain times. Outside-in thinking also sharpens your problem-solving skills so that you can take advantage of opportunities and avenues you may not have thought of before. Consequently, you will be better equipped to be more solution-driven, intentional, and adaptable after unwanted change
Mindfulness Supports You As You Navigate The Journey
Mindfulness enables you to successfully navigate change because staying in the present helps you pause, calm your thoughts, and reduce the need to focus on events of the past that were unpleasant, or anxiety and worry about the future. By clearing our busy brains, we reduce worry about what will, or won’t happen next.
Taking things one day at a time, staying present, and being mindful are key to navigating stressful situations, particularly ones involving prolonged uncertainty. This helps us minimize over-thinking and reduce fear about what is not happening or what may happen to us.
Gratitude Illuminates The Path
As human beings, we tend to focus on what we don’t have, rather than what we do have. It is human nature to spend time and energy mourning what we have lost and forget to appreciate what we have. Add some prolonged uncertainty that comes with disruptions—like a global pandemic—and feelings of depression and anxiety can skyrocket. Recognizing what are grateful for after an unplanned, unwanted change can be challenging though.
The antidote to this is to acknowledge things, even small ones, that you are thankful for.
Gratitude is an affirmation of goodness. It is also an underused tool that helps us respond to change, especially the unpleasant kind. While we cannot control what is happening, we can control how we respond to events in our lives. Recognize that despite life’s challenges, you can manage to some extent how your day unfolds. While gratitude doesn’t make you immune to negative feelings, it can help make you more resilient because it focuses our attention on more positive emotions rather than negative ones. People with a more grateful disposition are also more likely to bounce back after great adversity. Our intention creates our reality, and gratitude illuminates the path by helping us focus on our blessings, and staying positive.
Jane,
thank you for joining us on RosieCentral today. As you know, RosieCentral delves into the lives of women so that we can draw inspiration from them. Given your important book, I wonder if you have any final words for our readers that will help them find inspiration not only from the lives of others but also from their own life experiences?
Thanks, Matilda for inviting me to RosieCentral.
After my experiences, I believe that life is a journey filled with chapters, storylines and characters that are constantly changing. I also believe you don’t just find happiness; you create it.
Living intentionally, and purposefully, with gratitude and kindness supports all of us.
Be less judgmental of ourselves and others, let go of what no longer serves us, and realize our full potential.
In following this advice, we open our minds to possibilities we never could have imagined-- including moments when we can find sweetness when life gives us sourness. Times that help us create happiness, not just find it, be thankful and learn from our life experiences, and create new possibilities and the super awesome life we all deserve.
Thank you Jane. You've provided a new perspective on ways to avoid letting life's difficult experiences defeat us. Rather you've opened up the concept of turning life around in a way that we can land "butter side up."
More About Jane Enright
Jane Enright is an ordinary person who has survived some extraordinary things. An inspiring and humorous inspirational author, speaker, and positivity expert, Canada-based Enright is a former kindergarten teacher, strategic planner, and university lecturer, as well as the founder and CEO of Everything at My Super Awesome Life Inc. She is also the author of Butter Side Up: How I Survived My Most Terrible Year & Created My Super Awesome Life and Jane’ Jam: Inspiration To Create Your Super Awesome Life. Jane speaks to audiences seeking answers to overcoming a fear of the unknown, grief, stress, loss, depression, anxiety, stagnation, indecision, sadness, and more. From top executives to stay-at-home moms, she is helping audiences throughout North America land “butter side up” find joy, successfully manage change and choices, and learn how to create their super awesome life after unexpected change. You can find Jane on LinkedIn and Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. For more information, visit her at www.mysuperawesomelife.com, www.janeenrightauthor.com, and https://shewritespress.com/portfolio/jane-enright/
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