Interestingly, as common as hindrances are, we’re not often taught techniques for managing them, and when they appear, it’s easy to get lost in their distracting whirlpool of stress. Without an efficient process to follow, we can get stuck for a time in procrastination mode, which only serves to prolong our discomfort. The good news though, is that life’s bumps can serve as gifts in disguise if we choose to perceive them as such.
Here, Muffy Churches, the author of Coach Yourself and an internationally renowned integrative success coach, shows us seven ways to help us view life’s obstacles through new, empowered eyes – in fact, to play them like a chess game and win!
Anticipate
Obstacles can throw us off kilter, more so when they blind-side us. What can help is to expect their appearance. Try being on the constant-ready, prepared to welcome, accept, and embrace whatever it is that pops up. When it does, your response has a better chance to be one of objectivity and solution-focus and less of annoyance or anxiousness.
Reframe
I love this coaching term. It refers to putting a more positive spin on a situation. Instead of perceiving the issue as an obstacle, try seeing it as an opportunity, for positive change. That shift in thinking can dramatically transform the quality of your energy and emotions around the problem. With this opportunistic mind-set, you can move directly to the ‘how’, “How can I turn this issue into an opportunity?” This productive thinking serves to move us AWAY from any tendency to procrastinate or mope, and TOWARD problem solving and strategic decision-making.
Leverage
However you choose to ‘perceive’ your obstacle, there is no doubt that its existence will throw a significant amount of emotional energy into your day. The stress, frustration or impatience you may initially feel, can be tapped in a productive way. Use it as a driving force to explore the issue and as fuel to create an effective resolution. Think of this natural energy source as a battery pack and you’re in charge of what you use it to power up- A gruff mood or… a creative focus to produce a win.
Envision
One of the most powerful ways to create a happy ending is to take time, right up front, to imagine the very best possible end result – to become crystal clear in your head about what you want to see as an outcome. The picture of this aftereffect must be vivid and in full detail, so that you have something specific to move toward. It’s important to try to use all 6 senses as you conjure up an ideal result. See it as if you’re watching a movie.
Plan
Working off the back of your newly formulated vision, you’re ready to become strategic, so reverse engineer, from the ideal end result. Again, using your imagination, what were the things you did to get there? What decisions did you make along the way? Who did you involve? What were the action steps you took? From this point you can create a realistic plan and prepare for real-time action.
Take Action
Depending on the nature of your specific obstacle, the action steps may be quick and easy or long and involved. Either way, hold onto your plan like you would a flagpole in a big wind. It will ground you to objectivity and outcome and keep you from spinning emotionally, especially if you’re caught up in a particularly complex situation. Keep your vision for the ideal end result in mind and recalibrate your plan along the way as needed. Before you know it, you’ll be out of the forest and into the sunny clearing.
Bask!
And now, bask in the glow of your success and the rewards of your envisioning, planning and action. Whether you worked through a small or complex issue… you accomplished a resolution and you can relax in knowing that you’re prepared to manage the next one with relative ease. Life is good.
Muffy Churches is the author of Coach Yourself, and is an internationally renowned integrative success coach. Born in the US and settled in Sydney, she works as a corporate trainer, executive coach, speaker, author, and counsellor. She has extensive experience in inspiring and initiating positive behavioural change in clients around the world. For more information visit www.muffychurches.com or contact: connect@muffychurches.com
