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Mindfully Moving Beyond the Beliefs Blocking Your Path

The thing about stuck points is that when we’re caught in one, we don’t often think about ways to work around them and move forward. We don’t shift into problem-solving mode and weigh our options (mostly because we don’t know how to and therefore cannot). 

To be able to solve problems, you must think realistically, coherently, without any chatter. And unfortunately, when anxious, our mind can get tied up in its contemplation wheel and fail to work on more productive and purposeful things. 

For instance, imagine you have a team deadline to meet, but a member of your team isn’t contributing equally. Instead of working yourself up about why he or she isn’t doing their part, it would be more useful to think about ways to help them step up or help reach the immediate deadline.

So, you can:

• Speak to the member and let them know where they need to step up, while suggesting some options to work things out.
• Give them simpler jobs or a checklist to do every day.
• Split the work amongst others in the team.
• Get the job done first and then look at a more permanent way out.

Mindfully forcing yourself to look at the possible solutions as opposed to mulling on the problem can help relieve the stress of rumination. Focusing on a constructive solution will shift you to a more positive state of mind just as achieving the solution will shift you to a state of peace and contentment.