From Walls to Bends: How to Turn Setbacks into Success

Everyone hits a wall. Athletes reach theirs or record “limits.” Learners from grade to graduate school get stymied. Old and new businesses fail. At each event, fears and self-doubts can turn into procrastination and quitting. It’s the time when we long for a superhero, a fairy godmother to cast a spell and change the scene.

Is there an alternative? A path for mere mortals who aren’t the gifted, superstars that the media flags for admiration? As it turns out, we all have a touch of superhero-ness. It’s the power to transform our inner reality. And then the magic really begins. Here are the moves.

Banish self-doubts!

First recognize that big little, old, young, individual, or groups – it doesn’t matter. End points arise for all. The wall is not yours alone; someone else has surely been there before. A wall is not a mirror. It doesn’t reveal your shortcomings. It’s only the limits of what you know or know how to do.

Discontinue all previous actions!

The way that led to the wall is not the solution. Doing more of the same gets more of the same. If hours of effort or meetings reap mediocre results, or practice doesn’t make for perfect free throws – stop. Get more knowledge, more know-how. Get a coach!

Listen to yourself!

How would you label or picture this issue? Is it a wall? Those have size limits that can be scaled or gotten around. Is it a problem? Those have solutions. Is it an obstacle? Those have detours to get back on track. More specifically, is the impossible task or goal too big, too complex, too uncertain, or a block to progress? If so, chuck it, simplify it, get more data, plot a new course. View the stop as a signal: what’s it saying?

Imagine!

The ultimate magic wand is your imagination. Reshape obstacles into opportunities. In the risk-free world of your mind, finish these three spells:

“If only I could …”
“Then I’d be able to …”
“To get to that, I’d be willing to …”