We all have crisis. If you are not in it now, you’ve been in it before, and you will likely be in it again. And perhaps again, and again. We (Aly and Andrea) happen to be in it now, personally, and in an unimaginably huge way. Perhaps because we are motivational speakers, and most see us as just about the “happiest people they know,” you probably don’t believe us when we say this is a very sad, difficult family crisis we are going through right now. It is. We’ll tell you all about it another day, but we know we’ll get through it, past it, and beyond it. The question for you becomes, how do you get past your life-crisis? Better yet, how will they shape you?
We did not become the “adversity experts” for no reason. We have been here, in the middle of awful, many times before and we have a system. We know the critical components to beating and thriving amongst the adversity. Here are some of our favorites:

Know What You Stand For
We speak in Rock Star terms, so we call this your Hall of Fame. Its your legacy, and you get to build it, but you must take the time to define it now. Immediately. Decide and know what you stand for in your personal and professional brand, very concisely. If you don’t, someone else will do it for you, and it may not be pretty.
Got it? Now write it down and look at it every day. Post it where you see it everyday. Yes, your pantry, people. Post it notes on your bathroom mirror work, too. From here going forward, every decision you make must be based on your Hall of Fame. Whether in great victory or seemingly unbearable crisis, make every choice around that: What You Stand For.
Establish Your Entourage
Again, our Rock Star U term for the people around you. These are the people that fiercely protect you and support you. They celebrate with you when things are great, and they want to be with you when they are falling apart. They will do anything humanly possible to help you get through the storm. They are quick forgivers, but they will never enable repeat mistakes. They will be brutally honest, yet gentle advisors. And after the storm, they will again bask in the sunlight with you.
When battling obstacles, the most important thing to remember about your entourage is not who is in it. Rather, the most important component is knowing who is not in your entourage. In crisis, more than ever, understand your boundaries. Say no, and allow no one to cross the boundaries you defined in your Hall of Fame. If members of your entourage are “work,” let us be clear– kick them out. It is better to have a one-member entourage that really gets it, than twelve members who don’t.
Sit in the Suite
The view is sweet from the suite. When facing adversity, realize you may be standing too close to the circumstance. Step away from the front row, where you thought you could see everything, and get in the suite. Notice the difference from up there? This is the big picture. The circumstances have not changed, but certainly your perspective has. You can now see the entire venue, and it is much easier to choreograph your Victory Tour with that kind of space and perspective. If you cannot find the strength to walk up there, don’t worry. Your entourage will drag you.
Be Visionary: Master the Controls Even in the Storm
We love talking about being Visionary, because Andrea is visually impaired. But she learned long ago that her lack of eyesight had nothing to do with experiencing true vision. The same is applicable to you, and particularly in crisis. See, we all feel a little blinded in life. The fact is, no matter how much we plan, organize, train, or expect, sometimes what’s around the corner is nowhere near what we’d expected, hoped for, or prepared for. So we have to feel around a little until we figure it out.
Here’s the beautiful part. When we are in these dark, scary places, we learn to take control by feel. We learn to go back to our intuition. We learn how to get up and start over. We learn gratitude not for the victory, but for the terrifying challenge itself because that is what ultimately shapes us. So here is your action step: Control your responses, and let the circumstances be. Stop fighting them, and just allow them to be. Now you are free to steer your responses around your Hall of Fame.
Know No “No.” Just Know.
Rock Stars are not victims. If you want to beat this challenge you are facing, you must get that. So know that you will certainly face many “No’s” before the “Yes.” This is where you get to chose. Press on, even imperfectly going forward. The mistakes along the way will simply teach you which way not to proceed and better help refine your path. Educate yourself with that imperfect action, classes, mentors, and mistakes. Keep doing that, in the middle of trying to move that mountain, and suddenly that no becomes a know and the know becomes a yes. Suddenly, you have stomped on that adversity. Yesssssss.

For those of you currently going through crisis, you are not alone. For the rest of you, go get in their entourage. Sign up for our free newsletter and get even more inspirational tips for overcoming everyday challenges, special discounts on products and events, and more.  Welcoming comments on this one… What are your favorite tips for overcoming adversity?  We may feature you in the newsletter, too!