Tong (Toni) Liu MD is a Cartoonist, Life Coach, and Family Physician focused on women’s preventative care. View profile
What is your biggest Obstacle in life right now keeping you from getting to where you want to be? Is it asking for a raise? Losing weight? Making time for hobbies? Improving relationships?
Life can throw incredibly tough challenges at us. But EVERYTHING is conquerable!
Our brain is our most powerful weapon, and some small, simple mental shifts can help make tackling any obstacle much easier.
1. Break it down into small daily steps
Visualize yourself as the Heroine of your story and your Obstacle as an enemy. It’s not some insurmountable wall; it’s another being, with weak spots. What is your SuperHeroine name and powers? What is your Villain’s name?
Break it down and list small steps you can take to fight it, targeting those weak points. How can you see your Obstacle from different angles, and come up with new ways to tackle it? If you’re feeling stuck…
2. Seek support from others
Find and speak with others who have conquered this before. You are never alone in the challenges you face, no matter what they are.
Reach out for a support group or listening ear, or do a brainstorming session together. Hire a coach, therapist, accountability partner, lawyer, whoever you need to support you in your journey.
Know that you are worth supporting and that it’s never a burden. We were not built to do everything alone.
3. Celebrate your wins every day
Give yourself a pat on the back at the end of every day, no matter how much or little you’ve done. Be kind with yourself. You don’t need to work on it every day, as long as you don’t give up working on it.
4. Practice gratitude
No matter what you’re facing, there are people who would love to be where you are at already. It may help to remind yourself that some people would love to be you. It helps you feel more grateful for all that you have already.
5. Adopt a growth mindset – Progress, not Perfection
Be forgiving of yourself when you make mistakes or if your progress is not where you want it to be. It’s okay to take 2 steps forward and 1 step back.
As long as you are moving, you are getting closer to your goal every moment. It’s a matter of WHEN, not IF.
If it takes about 10,000 hours to become an expert in anything, it’s ok if it will take you a long time to conquer your Obstacle. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You WILL get there if you put in more time and effort; it’s not a question.
6. Look back to see how far you’ve already come
Zoom out from your Obstacle from time to time to see the progress you’ve made. Remind yourself that you are amazing and capable of anything.
Especially as women, it can be so easy to downplay all our accomplishments. Give yourself the recognition and acknowledgements you deserve!
If you’re having trouble, ask someone else to remind you, or write in a journal to yourself as if you were your good friend.
7. Consult Future You
Envision yourself 5, 10, 20 years later. How big or important will this Obstacle be? Will it still matter by that time?
If it will, try to put yourself in Future You’s shoes, who has conquered this already, and ACT AS IF you are already a winner triumphant over this Obstacle. When stuck, ask “What would SHE do?”
What is your Obstacle? What kind of SuperHeroine are you and what kind of Villain is your Obstacle?
Reach out to me anytime if you’d like more support!
Short Article Review
- Our brain is our most powerful weapon. We can do ANYTHING we set our minds to, especially if we adopt some small mental shifts.
- Your Obstacle always has weak spots. It can always be broken down into manageable daily steps.
- Celebrate yourself and the entire journey. Acknowledge yourself for where you’re at, how far you’ve come, and how you’re doing every day.
- Be kind and forgiving towards yourself. Aim for progress, not perfection, and know that it’s a matter of WHEN, not IF you conquer your Obstacle.
- Seek help and support from others as needed. You are never alone, and we were not built to do everything alone.
The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, investment, financial, medical or other advice. Always seek the advice of a licensed professional regarding any questions you may have.
The Post 7 Mental Shifts for Conquering Any Obstacle appeared first on Womanly Inspiration.
