When you face a life-threatening event, will you be prepared?

pulpbat - croppedOne night, just after midnight, I was walking from Clovelly corner to Kalk Bay on my own. No cars were on the main road. No one else was walking at that time in the darkness. I had walked this walk many times before and never felt afraid.

I sensed someone was behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a young man with blonde hair coming towards me with a baseball bat. As he struck with his baseball bat, I turned around and raised my arm in defence. This move prevented the blow from smashing into my skull. I told the young man to leave me alone and go home. Something seemed to change in him and he ran away back towards Clovelly. Continue reading “When you face a life-threatening event, will you be prepared?”

How to handle the “death valley” in personal transitions?

(Copyright © 2015 by Chesney Bradshaw, all rights reserved)
(Copyright © 2015 by Chesney Bradshaw, all rights reserved)

You may decide to take the plunge and move in a new direction but fear sets in and you find yourself trapped in “death valley”. This state has many different descriptions including depression, being immobilised or paralysed by your fears.

Digging yourself out can be difficult. Once you are inside “death valley” you are battling with your previous identity and trying to adjust to a new identity. Your stable, comfortable status quo has given way to a chasm of chaos. This is the most difficult part of personal transition. Continue reading “How to handle the “death valley” in personal transitions?”