I’m a step counter. My iWatch buzzes me every hour to ensure that I get up and move around. Before my iWatch, I was addicted to my FitBit and iPhone statistics. Warren and I have a friendly competition to see who gets the most steps and who has a better weekly and monthly average. We want as many steps as possible to not only have a higher average but also increase our daily movement as part of our lifestyle.
This means we don’t always take the easy way out. When I need a bathroom break, I go upstairs instead of the bathroom on the main floor. When I’m cleaning up, I walk around the kitchen simultaneously. I walk around for seemingly no reason at least once per hour.
If you were looking at what we do from the outside, it would seem strange. But for us, it is a challenge and a lifestyle habit.
Taking the easy way is not always our goal. Our goal is not to get through the day with fewer steps than the day before to prove we are efficient, and taking the easy way at work isn’t always the goal either.
Sometimes, the obstacles make the trip more rewarding (like taking many steps), and sometimes, they can cause disappointment. Much like getting many steps, it’s how you see these obstacles! Your attitude will help you overcome the challenges that come your way.
I know an admin who has a child who was born deaf. When asked about it, she has the most amazing attitude about it. She explained to me how it allowed her to know her child much better than she ever expected, the opportunity to learn sign language, the miracle of cochlear implants, and the change in her child. Instead of having a “poor me” or “my poor child” attitude about her challenge, she completely embraced the situation. She looked at it as a positive experience instead of a negative one. She saw her child’s hearing impairment as a gift instead of a curse to them both. What a fantastic attitude when you speak to her about it!
Another admin shared the story of losing her job. She said it was the best thing that had ever happened to her because of the job she got. If she hadn’t lost her first job, she wouldn’t have looked for another job, and she wouldn’t have found her dream job. She would be stuck in an easy yet unfulfilling job until she retired. She’d be comfortable but bored.
The easy way would have been to stay in a dead-end job or to consider losing her job a terrible catastrophe. Instead, she saw losing her job as a new challenge that would allow her to create her dream job. The comfort of a full-time paycheck prevented her from finding the perfect solution prior to losing her job. Once she had no choice, the obstacle became an opportunity!
Do you see the challenges and obstacles as negative, or can you see the silver lining in the situation?
Looking back at the pandemic – was it an opportunity for you, or are you still lamenting the government shutdowns, forced vaccinations, or increased pricing due to supply chain issues?
Is returning to work an opportunity for your career or a massive inconvenience? What about a new manager, different responsibilities, or even someone new to train?
When we can change our attitude about these obstacles, we show resilience and determination, which also shows our ability to adapt and problem-solve effectively. This can improve our reputation as reliable, positive, and competent. It can even open the doors to new opportunities for ourselves.
If all you do is complain, you’ll create a reputation too. Only you won’t like it.
I remember when I learned to ski downhill. The hills are labeled green circle, blue square, and black diamond to indicate their difficulty level. Green was the easiest, black the hardest. I skied on green for a long time because I was afraid to fall and get hurt.
The day I upgraded to blue, I was petrified. I didn’t know if I could do it. It was a challenge that I willingly put on myself. I wanted to be a better skier. I wanted to ski blue and then black. My attitude about the challenge showed that I didn’t want to take the easiest way down the hill but instead wanted to challenge myself. The challenge proved to me that I could do it. The day I skied my first black diamond hill, I felt I could conquer the world. Skiing isn’t about taking the easiest way down the mountain (or I wouldn’t ski at all because that is easiest). It’s about navigating the mountain, the bumps, the turns, and the speed while getting down the mountain safely. It’s invigorating!
You’re likely to face some challenges this week. Are you going to face them with the right attitude? Or will you complain, point out that you are always getting these types of challenges, and identify yourself as a victim? Is it invigorating and challenging, or something you can do with your eyes closed? Are you challenged or bored? Are you positive or negative?
Or do you see the challenge as an opportunity for a reward? The easiest way is not always the most rewarding. Look at those challenges as opportunities.
This article was written by Rhonda Scharf and not by artificial intelligence.
