“Power is influence over external events. Peace is influence over internal events.”

“Power is influence over external events. Peace is influence over internal events.”

James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits

Image from Unsplash by Belinda Fewings

When was the last time you felt powerless?

Take a close look at times in your personal and professional worlds when your progress was stalled or stopped. Examine both big and small situations to see how you responded.

When external events don’t go your way it’s often helpful to go within to grant yourself a sense of peace.

Your inner world can provide smoother sailing and open roads even when obstacles block your external paths.

EXERCISE:

Mindfully explore your ability to experience peace and power. When you find the external doors of life closed, notice how your inner world can help you find more peaceful paths forward.

Friday Review Obstacles

Friday Review: Obstacles

What do you do when faced with obstacles? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

“There are plenty of obstacles in your path. Don’t allow yourself to become one of them.”

 

 

 

 

“When the path is blocked, back up and see more of the way.”

 

 

“Your excuses will never be as good as the story of how you got it done.”

 

 

 

 

Your excuses will never be as good as the story of how you got it done

“Your excuses will never be as good as the story of how you got it done.”

—Chris Brogan, professional keynote speaker

Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan

A wise teacher from my past once said, “A good excuse with no results is still no results.” Giving up on a worthy effort even with what seems like a good reason is easy to do. After all, we did try, and things just didn’t work out.

Stop for a moment and ask yourself how often others have overcome the obstacle that appears to be in your way.  How did they get around it, over it, or through it? What resolve and more novel approaches did they take to achieve what for you is a dead end?

What examples do you have from your own life in which you rose above your excuses to accomplish something remarkable? Note how much fun you have telling the story of how you got it done.

EXERCISE:

Where are you currently making excuses for your own lack of results? How can and will you channel the hero within to overcome all the internal and external obstacles to tell the story of your eventual victory?

Consider check out the book Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo for a fresh and fun perspective on this topic.

“When the path is blocked, back up and see more of the way.”

“When the path is blocked, back up and see more of the way.”

—Mark Nepo, Author of The Book of Awakening

Image from Unsplash by Mike Cox

How familiar are you with the game of golf? To make courses more difficult, golf architects do numerous nefarious things to challenge and often frustrate both the weekend warrior and even the pros. Beyond making a course longer, various types of obstacles are built into most holes to make putting that little ball in the hole more difficult.

Of all the obstacles that cause the most consternation is the sand trap, which is now referred to as a bunker for political correctness.

Sometimes upon entering one, our ball lies so close to the lip that forward movement with the next shot is impossible. In such circumstances the player must step back from the situation to realize the only path forward is to hit the ball sideways, backwards, or even go back to the tee and accept a penalty stroke.

EXERCISE:

Where are your paths blocked in either your personal or professional life?  How would stepping back from these situations help you see your way forward more clearly?

Friday Review: Obstacles

Friday Review: Obstacles

What do you do when faced with obstacles? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

“There are plenty of obstacles in your path. Don’t allow yourself to become one of them.”

 

 

 

 

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

 

 

 

 

“Sometimes the door closes for us so we might turn and see an open gate to a wider opportunity.”

 

 

 

“Sometimes the door closes for us so we might turn and see an open gate to a wider opportunity.

“Sometimes the door closes for us so we might turn and see an open gate to a wider opportunity.”

—Brendon Burchard, NYT best-selling author & high-performance coach

Image from Unsplash by Shane Rounce

Countless doors are closing in response to the global pandemic. To what extent have these efforts to contain and combat this crisis impacted your professional world?

What obstacles are in the way of you living life and conducting business as usual?

In what ways have you and your communities been forced to find other means of pursuing and achieving the outcomes you desire? In what way are closed doors forcing you outside your comfort zone, to see alternative open gates of wider opportunity?

EXERCISE:

Consider discussing today’s quote with members of your work and personal communities, to discover what new gates you can open together.

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

—Louisa May Alcott, 19th Century American author of Little Women

Image from Unsplash by Bobby Burch

If you enjoy good stories with wonderful characters, please go see the movie Little Women, or by all means, read the book.

In our daily lives we can all be coached by the times we see others face and overcome their challenges and obstacles. Doing so can instill the belief that we, too, can do the same.

EXERCISE:

Where in your personal or professional life are you facing considerably rough waters?

In what ways can and will you face these challenges boldly and courageously to chart your course toward a brighter future?

Obstacles in your path

“There are plenty of obstacles in your path. Don’t allow yourself to become one of them.”

—Author Unknown

Image of a locked fence

Image from Unsplash by Jason Blackeye

The TV show, Running Wild with Bear Grylls, comes to mind when I think about today’s quote.

In this show, famed adventurist and survivalist Bear Grylls takes top stars from the entertainment and sports worlds into the most remote and pristine locations in the world for a 48-hour journey of a lifetime.

Cast members face their deepest fears and tackle everything from wild animals to rock rappelling through some of the world’s most unforgiving wilderness.

We all face a wide variety of daily external obstacles that fall short of these life-threatening challenges. We also create many internal challenges that stop us in our tracks, as abruptly as if our lives were on the line.

EXERCISE:

Where are you currently your own worst enemy, or putting up your own internal barriers? What one courageous action can you take today to create a breakthrough in this area?