Is that even possible? Yes, yes it is.
Turning an obstacle into an opportunity? Sounds easier than it is, I know.
But if there is one thing I’m learning in this life, it’s that with every “No” there is a “Yes” waiting. With every fumble, there is a clear path emerging. And with every obstacle I encounter, there is an opportunity to grow, right on the other side.
So how do we do it?
How do we learn to pivot, evolve, reimagine, and let go of what doesn't serve us?
Well—as with anything—there is no perfect formula, but here are 4 tools I use to change my mindset and shift my perspective when I’ve hit a wall.
1. Let Go of Whatever Doesn’t Work for You
We cannot change anything in our life without creating space.
And the way we make space is by letting go of things which no longer serve us. Look, I get it, change is one of the most intrinsic, consistent and natural parts of life—and I’ve never met anyone who likes it. But it is necessary to replace habits, people, things, and patterns in your life that do not serve the direction you wish to go in.
Leaving behind whatever doesn’t work for me, allows me to create space for new opportunities and experiences that bring more joy to my life – and since joy is one of my non-negotiable values, I’ve become really intentional about letting go and saying No.
2. Overcome Limiting Beliefs by Listening to Your Inner Voice
Recently, I wrote a post about trusting your gut.
It speaks to how our inner voice is often drowned out by Dominant Stories.
Once I learned to pay attention to my inner voice (what I like to call “the whispers”), I was able to tap into a deeper level of understanding and wisdom that helps guide my decisions. Listening to this inner voice leads you to TRUSTING that voice. Again, this is something that takes practice – but the good news is this is all part of our journey – so start listening!
3. Think About the 30K ft. View of Your Life
Sometimes when we encounter an obstacle we can spend a lot of time focusing on the problem of the moment. But this can also be a great practice in looking up or thinking about the 30K ft. view of your life.
Think about the bigger picture of your life.
Basically, zoom out. Think about what guides you every day. What is your purpose? What do you value? Remember, this is but a moment in what is hopefully a life full of many moments.
Taking a beat to contemplate the bigger picture can help you regain perspective.
It may be hard at the moment, but it won’t (and doesn’t) last forever. Taking this approach has helped me to tap into creative solutions and opportunities that end up moving my life and business forward in the direction I desire.
Trust me – it’s easy to get sucked into the details, but if you look at everything as a whole, it’s much easier to not sweat the small stuff.
4. Remember, You are Constantly Creating Your Life
Most annoying piece of advice anyone gave me was that my obstacles are my greatest opportunities.
But by God if that didn’t turn out to be true. I can now look back at some of the hardest moments of my life and with the right time, space and perspective, I can see now just how much these moments were in service to creating the life I wanted. Even when I didn’t know it.
Every obstacle I run into - I now look at as a prime teacher. I do believe we are always learning + always growing. Even in the muck. Especially in the muck.
With this mindset, I’m able to take on challenges with courage + confidence, knowing that every failure is an opportunity for my learning and growth.
I’m definitely not intending to make this sound like a walk in the park - but I do want to share the actions I’ve taken and the mindset shifts I’ve undergone that help me move through hard times and bring me out on the other side.
You aren’t alone.
Join me in making the most out of every situation, by looking from different perspectives, to gain new insights about ourselves and the world around us.
Every month I send out a personal note that shares the behind the scenes stories of what makes me an Actionist® – aka someone who wants to create change in their everyday life, career, or community.