A Stumbling Block to the Pessimist Is a Stepping Stone to the Optimist

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Viewing something that you feel is a stumbling block as a stepping stone may at times not seen all that easy. Like any habit, learning to view things in a positive light takes practice. Here's a quick example:

A number of years ago I found myself reflecting on the number of leaves that had accumulated in my backyard. Now it was the fall of the year and the time when the leaves were falling off the trees. The interesting thing is is that I didn't have any leaf-bearing trees in my yard. Yes, you guessed it right, all the leaves in my yard came from the yards of neighbors. Now it seemed to me that if the neighbors had raked their leaves and collected them in a timely fashion they wouldn't be blowing into my yard.

Well, quite obviously, that was not empowered way of framing the situation. When I reflect back on it I can't believe that each year I allowed myself to be frustrated by what I interpreted to be my neighbors lack of consideration.

Then one day it hit me. As I was raking leaves I noticed that I was really working up quite a sweat. I decided to pick up the pace and the next thing you know I transformed raking leaves into an excellent workout.

Now when my neighbors' leaves blow into my yard I see it as a tremendous opportunity to build strength through an excellent workout. It feels great to grow stronger performing a task that I once became so frustrated about.

We all have opportunities to transform what appeared to be stumbling blocks into stepping stones. By letting the optimist in you keep your mindset positive you will drive out the pessimist in you that may be robbing you of your joy.

 
“A stumbling block to the pessimist is a stepping stone to the optimist.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

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It Is Our Attitude at the Beginning of a Difficult Task Which, More Than Anything Else, Will Affect Its Successful Outcome

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Keeping this quote in mind has helped me transform my attitude towards performing certain tasks that don't necessarily rank highly on my list of things I want to do. If I approach a task with reluctance and dred then I have lost the battle before it has begun. If, on the other hand, I reframe my approach then the task is not only easier to complete, but is often times enjoyable.

You can reframe your approach by making one simple change. Rather than saying to youself,

“I dred doing this” or “I have to do this” or “I sure wish I didn't have to do this”

say to yourself,

“I want to do this” or “I look forward to doing a great job”

Reframing our approach allows us to begin and complete tasks in a much more enjoyable and efficient fashion. The end results will often times be better as well. This makes perfect sense as we are more likely to do a better job of completing a task we enjoy rather than one we approach with reluctance. As an added bonus we are less likely to procrastinate when it comes to tasks that we don't dred.

 

“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.”

William James

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Life’s Rewards Go to Those Who Let Their Actions Rise above Their Excuses

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It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that our achievements are directly linked to the decisions we make and the actions that we take based upon those decisions. It is very easy to put things off because, “the time isn't right” or any other excuse that is convenient to us.

Excuses become a problem when they become a habit. When excuses become a habit we will often times put more effort into crafting our excuses than we do into accomplishing our goals.

Solution: Stop making excuses! Look at it this way, you can make progress or you can make excuses, but you can't do both. Simply deciding your mind once and for all which you choose to be a bigger part of your life, excuses or progress.
You can start by taking one small thing that you've been putting off and doing that thing today.

 

 

 
Life's rewards go to those who let their actions rise above their excuses – David K. Reynolds

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Mile by Mile It’s a Trial; Yard by Yard It’s Hard; but Inch by Inch It’s a Cinch.

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One of my favorite ways approach a difficult or complex task is to break it down into smaller, more manageable, bite-size pieces. A good friend of mine used to constantly remind me that, “inch by inch it's a cinch” when he saw I was frustrated by a particular task. The simple saying stuck with me the better part of my life and has helped me to accomplish tasks which I once thought were impossible.

It's very easy to look at a monumental task and to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume or complexity of work to be done. In the past I have even found myself giving up on certain tasks because I felt overwhelmed. In essence I had defeated myself before I even started.

The first step, of course, is to take the first step (“inch”). Don't let the size or complexity of the task discourage you from getting started. This is easy trap for any of us to fall into and we must avoid it at all costs.

Also don't get discouraged by thinking that your steps are too small. No matter how small your steps are, you must remember that if you keep taking them you will keep moving forward.

“Mile by mile it's a trial; yard by yard it's hard; but inch by inch it's a cinch.”  – Anonymous

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