Creative Solutions To Overcoming Your Obstacles

“Logic will get you from Point A to Point B. Creativity will get you everywhere.”

-       Attributed to Albert Einstein

When was the last time you ran into an obstacle while working towards a goal? Last week, or maybe even yesterday?

Obstacles are everyday occurrences that can make even simple things hard to do.  We look for ways through or around them, but sometimes we change our goals or give up entirely to avoid them.

If you are struggling with a particularly difficult obstacle, you may have to get creative to overcome it. A little ingenuity can go a long way. You don’t have to give up on your goals – just find inventive ways to achieve them.

Here are three helpful strategies to finding creative solutions:

Brainstorm Wildly

Give yourself permission to be ridiculous.

Yep, you read that right. Your first step is to brainstorm every solution that you can think up – even the ridiculous ones. Let your mind wander through everything and start writing your list. Don’t worry about the logistics of each solution. Know that you can sort through your list later and turn off your inner editor for this moment.

The goal of this exercise isn’t to find the exact solution to your problem. You want to open your mind to new possibilities. By thinking outside of your usual train of thought, you will come up with lots of outrageous ideas, but you also may discover possible solutions that you couldn’t see before.

Go wild! Unleash your inner ridiculous self!

Examine Beliefs

We base our solutions on assumptions of what is and isn’t possible. Yes, there are aspects of your life you may not be able to change – you do need to eat, sleep, etc. But some things that you see as unchangeable may not be as fixed as you believe.

Look at what you assume you can’t change and ask, what if? What options would open up if I could change this part of my life? What new obstacles might I encounter? For example, your job may be interfering with your ability to work towards your goal to focus on family. Do you need to keep that specific job? Could you change something about your career to allow you to spend more time with your loved ones?

Questioning your beliefs doesn’t mean you have to reject them. To continue with the example, you may find that you can’t imagine a satisfying life without your job. This could lead to a new appreciation for your situation, and the realization that your obstacle is unrelated to your work and stemming from something else entirely.

Challenge Preconceptions

Our perceptions are formed from all of our senses. We develop preconceived ideas of what something is like before we ever do it based on what we hear and see. But until we try something for ourselves, do we really know what it is like?

Don’t discount solutions that involve trying something new, even if you have a preformed sense of whether it will work for you. Approach it with an open mind, challenge your preconceptions, and learn through experience.

To give you an example, I hear a lot of women express concern that lifting weights will make them “bulk up.” In reality, it takes a very specific type of program for women to significantly increase muscle size. There are plenty of great strength training programs available that help women improve their fitness and have fun being active. Explore the possibilities to find the one that fits you and your goals!

There is always the possibility that you will prove your preconceptions right. Even if your first try doesn’t work out, it may lead to new resources and ideas. Or, you may be pleasantly surprised and discover something new about yourself and what works for you. You won’t know until you try!

Next Steps

What is holding you back from working on your goal right now? Define your obstacle, and then try these strategies to overcome it. Talk to friends and family to gain additional perspectives and ideas. Or look for a life coach to help you through the process.

Embrace your creativity and allow a world of possibilities to unfold before you!

By Jennifer Stanhagen

Jennifer is a fitness and wellness coach with Total Health Concepts, LLC.  A graduate of George Mason University’s Athletic Training Program, her professional interests include helping people return from injuries to lead happy, healthy, active lives. She also works as a freelance writer and group fitness instructor, earning the nickname "Bootcamp Jenn."  Comments, questions, and feedback are always welcome at jennifer@totalhealthconcepts.net.