BECOMING BIGGER THAN YOUR PROBLEMS By Angeli Marie Shaw

For most of us, the problems we encounter day to day can seem huge, daunting, unsolvable, even frightening. We create drama around the challenges we face and start making mountains out of molehills.

Unconsciously, we are giving power to our external world of persons and events, but this hardly grows us on our journey to becoming stronger and wiser. Have you ever found yourself sizing up a problem, then trying to come up with a solution just as BIG as that problem? That there is the issue. We need to come up with solutions BIGGER than the problem!

When it comes to problems, I like to think of myself as a pioneer, not just a fixer. By this I mean not just trying to solve the issue at hand, but work out how I can use it to generate more of what I’m after down the road. This could be success, happiness, even just some peace of mind. I want to find solutions that don’t just fix the issue and return things to what they were, but keep the ball rolling so I can continue to grow and evolve, basically, I’m not just content with making up for lost ground, I want progress! I want to grow!

We have all been given the beautiful gift of creativity and this allows us to dream, imagine and design. To have the opportunity to implement amazing future realities for ourselves is most often inspired by our challenges. Like with so many things, it’s easier said than done, so let me share with you some starting points on how you too can progress and become bigger than the problems you have:-

1. Let’s start off with a simple one, THINK BIGGER.

Depending on the problem you may find yourself intimidated by the situation and you can only think in terms of fixing. Think in terms of growing! Don’t let the size of your problem dictate how big you think.

2. Remove the head chatter.

And by this, I mean overthinking. If you find your head full of unwanted thoughts, storytelling, and assumptions, get it out and write it down! I find it helpful to just free write, and by this I mean whatever thought comes into your mind at that moment, write it down, even if it doesn’t make sense. Now it may be tempting to read over once you’ve emptied your head out but in this case DON’T. Once you’ve finished writing, get rid of it and throw it out!

3. This one may be a tough pill to swallow, but guess what? Panic, self-pity, complaining and drama are totally OPTIONAL!

It’s the challenges and problems that arise in life that are inevitable; change your perspective! If you think your problems are devastating, they will be and if you think they are solvable, THEY WILL BE.

4. Don’t confuse a growth mindset with toxic positivity.

Sure, you can tell yourself ‘stay positive’ but without the all-important explanation and strategies on how to achieve this, it’s just a phrase. Growth mindset is more than just telling yourself a few positive words. It’s a mental shift away from a defeatist perspective and holding the belief that your own basic abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication. And if you do find yourself unable to rise above your problem and saying things like ‘I can’t do this’, realise you’re missing a word, you can’t do this ‘YET’!

5. Shift your perspective.

Challenging situations and problems can affect our perspective. For example, ever had one of those days where first thing in the morning you wake up to a text, let’s say a staff member calls in sick, and immediately you feel under the pump. You go to get dressed and the jeans you’re planning on wearing are dirty. You’re annoyed. You get to the salon and go to make a coffee only to realise the milk is out of date, and then your first client walks in with a latte, grrrrr! Apparently, it seems your entire day has gone in the wrong direction. However, the issue isn’t that your day has gone wrong, instead, it’s your perspective. From the moment you got that text, you put a negative twist on everything. You knew your jeans needed washing and you knew the salon was out of milk. And that client walking in with a latte probably tipped you over the edge. Breathe! Don’t let your energy go to waste on small matters; you’ll be drained before you even begin to figure out how to overcome your challenges

6. And now for an obvious one, figure out the SOLUTION!

There’s a solution to every problem, but if you can’t find a solution, was it really a problem in the first place? If there really is no solution to what is challenging you, then it’s likely what you’re faced with is a REALITY, that is to say, life. And those perceived ‘problems’ can only be solved through acceptance. If there is a solution, by simply thinking of ways to solve your problem means you’re on the right track. If you want to overcome an issue, you can, so focus on what you can do and keep it realistic. Take on ‘bigger picture’ thinking and those minor challenges along the way won’t seem so prevalent. Think of a beautiful, serene landscape. There’s a glowing sunset with fluffy clouds, natural beauty, and a gentle warm breeze. If you know the final destination is worth it, you won’t mind walking that narrow and bumpy path to get to it.

Problems, setbacks, and challenges ARE part of life. You’re not being singled out, it’s a normal part of life, like it or not. And what happens if you treat problems as a normal part of life? You’ll realise that being solution-minded is normal too! Overcome your challenges in a balanced way without letting it affect the healthy parts of your life and remember, no obstacle can stop you from living your life to the fullest, even the biggest problems; BE BIGGER! You’ve got this!

Love & Bliss, Angeli xxoo

Angeli is a Holistic Empowerment Coach, Mindset Mentor and founder of The Bliss Coach. To work with me in 2022, get in touch by visiting www.theblisscoach.com.au or follow us on our socials @theblisscoach to find out more.