It can be hard to look for possibilities during times of adversity. But these are also the times when you can most nurture your ability to create, recreate and innovate.
Here are 4 steps to strengthening your possibility mindset:
1 – Questioning your fears
During these times we are bombarded by fears, worries and doom day predication from here there and everywhere. Paradoxically, these fears and worries are likely to block your ability to think new, to reframe, think creatively and innovate. In other words these fears are likely to come true when you believe in them.
Questioning fears and worries are therefore a crucial first step to opening up for possibilities in a challenging situation. Here are some powerful questions to help you do that:
– Are the fears mine? Or is this something I am picking up from media, colleagues, my industry?
– Can I be absolutely sure these fears are true? (yes or no)
– What´s currently the evidence of these fears not being true?
– What´s possible without these fears?
2 – Balancing you mindset
You are more likely to effectively look for new possibilities when you are in a balanced state of mind. Practicing gratitude balances the minuses with the plusses.
Here are two powerful questions to help you balance your mindset:
– What´s good in this bad (situation)?
– What am I/are we truly grateful for in this situation?
3 – Reframing quickly when something goes wrong
Reframing is a muscle you can train. To measure your reframing muscle, notice how quickly you go into self pity, how long you stay there and how early you start to think ahead and look for new opportunities.
A cancelled business contract can give you time to regroup and plan for the future of your business so you can come out stronger ´on the other side´. A cancelled flight can give you time to think strategically and plan your next weeks so you can be a lot more effective in your work. These are examples of how unexpected changes can quickly become opportunities for growth when you leverage your reframing muscle.
Next time you lose a client or a project goes wrong, ask yourself at an early stage:
– What´s the opportunity in this?
4 – Spending time in silence and feeling into what is possible
When you set boundaries to noise and distractions you can strengthen your connection with your gut, your intuition and your senses.
Also, think about the type of environment that best supports your sense of connection with yourself. Maybe a walk in nature early in the morning or late in the evening can be a good support?
Once you reach a state of calm, balance and acceptance ask yourself this question:
– What is possible for me today in my life and in my business?
Just sit with the question, allow yourself think differently and open yourself up to new possibilities. Keep repeating the question, listen to your all of your senses and see what comes up for you.
This can be a great exercise for members in a team do individually before you do a brainstorming or creative session together as a team.
Want to learn more?
We offer short ´Essential business support courses´ to nurture and strengthen you and your team during the pandemic.
We can join your next online team meeting for a 30 – 45 minutes session to share tools and insight on how to strengthen resilience and nurture a possibility mindset during times of adversity.