Thinking Beyond Your Obstacles
How to turn obstacles into opportunities and problems into possibilities
The title of this post comes from an inspiring quote I read by Roy T. Bennett:
“Turn your obstacles into opportunities and your problems into possibilities.”
That quote got me thinking about all the ways we stop ourselves from moving forward. So often when we have a problem that creates strong emotions and feelings, it’s difficult to believe that there will ever be a solution.
Our brains like to create all kinds of obstacles to keep us from failing and we become stuck and we think we’re not capable. We create obstacles and problems for ourselves.
The longer we spend obsessing on a problem, the more obstacles we create, the more stuck we think we are, and the problem seems unsolvable.
We begin to focus on our limiting beliefs about ourselves and our abilities; we think of ourselves as victims of our circumstances instead of fully in control of our lives.
Here’s the good news: Those are just stories you keep telling yourself. What if that story isn’t true? What if you created a new story and believed that obstacles are opportunities, and problems are possibilities?
What if you actually are capable of solving all your problems? Here are some questions you could ask yourself (take to your journal!) to get started:
What skills do I have right now that could help me with this?
What do I need to learn? Where can I learn that?
What resources do I need?
Who could help me?
What would I advise a friend to do in this situation?
Here’s a question I particularly love to ask myself. It requires a little creative imagination and requires you to check in with your wisest self. Instead of remaining in “I don’t know” land, ask yourself:
If I did know what to do, what would I do next?
Write down all your thoughts about the situation and question each one. Ask yourself: Is it true? Where’s the evidence? If I didn’t have that thought, what would I think instead?
Here are two more mindful writing/journaling exercises to help you turn obstacles into opportunities and problems into possibilities.
Mindful Writing Exercise #1
Imagine the Solution
Get comfortable in your chair and have your journal and pen ready. Take a few breaths to connect your breath with your mind and body. Move your body in any way that feels good as you settle in the chair.
Now, bring the problem you’ve been grappling with to mind. Take your pen to the page and ask yourself: How does it feel when I think the following:
I don’t have enough money/time/fill in the blank to _____________.
I don’t know how to ________________________________.
Take a few moments to notice how you feel. These limiting beliefs will keep you stuck and unable to move forward. Then ask yourself:
How do I want to feel about myself and my abilities?
What do I need to think to create that feeling?
Mindful Writing Exercise #2
Pick a Word
This exercise invites your brain to think about the problem in new ways, i.e., think outside the box. It’s a metaphor-type exercise that asks you, “How is this like that?”.
Pick out a favourite book or magazine and have it in front of you. Take some time to settle in, connect with your breath, and do any movement that feels good.
Write down the problem you are trying to solve. Then, close your eyes, open the book or magazine, and place your finger anywhere on the page. Open your eyes. What word is your finger pointing to? Write it down. Then ask yourself:
How can I connect my current problem or situation with this unrelated word?
What would a creative solution look like if I think about the problem using this word?
Asking yourself lots of questions and doing exercises like these may help you to expand your thinking and come up with new possibilities.
What’s possible for you?
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I’d love to hear from you so please send any comments or questions to me at sharon@sharonashtonmindfulyoga.com. Feel free to share this email with anyone else who may be interested.
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"I felt at complete ease with Sharon from our first conversation. She has a wonderful, gentle but firm way that made me focus on my thoughts / feelings so I could remove / change to move forward with a completely different feeling to what felt like obstacles. It was great having regular coaching that gently kept me accountable to actioning and moving towards my goals. Sharon has vast experience in so many areas, I felt that makes her an amazing coach.”
— Michelle Carney, East Galway, Ireland
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