Darcy Luoma, a renowned author, speaker, and coach, shared her insights on overcoming challenges at the America’s Credit Unions' 2024 HR & Organizational Development Council Conference. Luoma emphasized the importance of viewing challenges as hurdles rather than roadblocks, stating, “The reality is we cannot eliminate hurdles. There will be more unpredictable challenges that we’re not anticipating. The key is to train to overcome them. And when you train, it helps your workplace. When your colleagues pause and think before acting, you have more meaningful discussions, and your teams will see better results and fewer regrets.”

Luoma highlighted the current workplace challenges faced by credit union human resources and organizational development professionals, including managing remote/hybrid workplaces, dealing with stress and burnout, and addressing workforce issues such as finding motivated employees and maintaining a positive culture.

The concept of being “Thoughtfully Fit®” was introduced by Luoma as a mental counterpart to physical fitness. She explained, “When you’re thoughtfully fit, your life is easier because you’re more intentional, you’re more thoughtful, and you’re navigating all your challenges. You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control what you do next. It doesn’t get easier; it just feels easier because you’re stronger.”

According to Luoma, the Thoughtfully Fit model involves pausing, thinking, and acting in response to challenges. She cautioned against relying solely on one approach, as overusing strengths can lead to further challenges. Luoma recommended the sequence of “pause, think, and then act” as the core of being Thoughtfully Fit, enabling individuals to build resilience, navigate challenges, and achieve results instead of regrets.

Practically, engaging the Thoughtfully Fit core involves pausing to clear the mind, asking strategic questions during the thinking process, and confidently taking action. Luoma encouraged attendees to practice engaging their thoughtful core three times a week, emphasizing the importance of consistently applying the principles of pause, think, and act to gain better results and control over their responses to challenges.

By training the Thoughtfully Fit core, individuals can take control of their actions, thoughts, and emotions, ultimately shaping a positive and proactive approach to facing obstacles and crafting a successful future.