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Facing Today’s Challenges with Optimism
We face significant challenges in our world today. Just listen to the radio, watch television or read the newspaper headlines. We are told that the economy is in tatters, many countries in the world are full of unrest and, here at home, governmental collaboration is strained at all levels. How can we as individuals, parents, business people move forward in such fear-laden times?
Rosamond Stone and Benjamin Zander write of ‘Creating Frameworks for Possibility’ in their book, The Art of Possibility.
“The foremost challenge for leaders today,…, is to maintain the clarity to stand confidently in the abundant universe of possibility, no matter how fierce the competition, no matter how stark the necessity to go for the short-term goal, no matter how fearful people are,… It is to have the courage and persistence to distinguish the downward spiral from the radiant realm of possibility in the face of any challenge.”
How have people coped when world realities create fearful times?
“I have a dream…” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”, former USA President John F. Kennedy
“An eye for an eye – makes us all blind.” Mahatma Gandhi
These leaders lived in challenging times. And they offered a new story, a new reality, for their countries to consider. They created new visions – new frameworks of possibility - a new way to look at the challenges everyone faced. They sounded a call to action that lifted people out of their day to day worries, and asked everyone to think about ways they could move toward the offered vision. These leaders called people to look for places of opportunity, for ways to reflect optimism that would move their world as it was, to a place of hope, new thought and promise.
“Yes, we can.” USA President Barak Obama
At a time of many challenges, the recently elected US President, Barak Obama, holds out this new framework of possibility to his fellow citizens. He asks them to step up to the challenge he sets for them when he says, “Yes, we can!” This new framework for possibility is one that calls the spirit of the people of the world to behave in ways that allows them to make a difference, to believe that yes, they will make a difference in their communities, their families, their work - their world.
Creating and Applying Your New Framework
As you consider a challenge in your world, restate it in a way that opens optimistic choices, sidestepping the concerns it brings to you - like a karate move. By choosing another way of thinking about the challenge, you open the door to new options, new ways to approach the situation. As you begin to look at new possibilities, you stop the negative spiral of your thoughts, emotions and reactions. And those around you recognize the change you are modelling and they follow your lead. There is no right way or wrong way to do things. Consider a new framework, and how you can operate within it.
When you enter into the territory of your new vision, and take on that way of thinking, “it becomes the framework for life around you.” Living inside that new structure, your decisions are coloured by the way you are now thinking about the challenges.
By monitoring yourself in that new framework, you know when you are ‘on track’, and when you are ‘off track’. By keeping the vision clearly in mind, you stay ‘on track’. If you slip into measurement, about right and wrong, the downward spiral starts to show up.
Q. What situations are you faced with right now that brings up fear and worry for you?
A. “The economic situation, and its impact on the financial stability of my family”
Q. What new framework for possibility can you create that would offer new possibility to you?
A. “At its simplest, the vision I have for my family is to build memories and experiences that emotionally enhance each of us, while economically living within our means.”
As this new plan becomes the structure for your family life, monetary things become less important, and ideas for fun become the fuel for your vision.
- Saturday tobogganing vs movies and dinner out
- Investing safely vs high risk potentials
- At home holidays, taking advantage of local attractions vs a trip to Disneyland
- Local professional development vs distant conferences
Whenever choices or opinions seem to stray from the low cost memory and experience building, reconnect to your family’s vision and what that means to all members of the family. Build on ideas from everyone as you all live in the joint framework for possibility that you have created with your family.
We are bombarded with challenging news daily. Our work as parents and business people is to breathe life and vitality into a vision for ourselves and those we love, in a way that we all see ways we can contribute to that vision. Let’s ensure that the’ tyranny of fear’ is converted into possibility and choice - to offer a new and positive way forward for ourselves, our families and our communities.
Reference: Rosamund Stone, Benjamin Zander, The Art of Possibility. Penguin Books, New York, NY, 2002
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Sue Smarkala is an Executive Coach for Leadership at the Adlerian Counselling and Consulting Group Inc. Sue has over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, and has been a coach since 2001.
Psychotherapy / Counselling: Individual Counselling, Couple / Marriage Counselling,
Family / Parent Counselling, Children / Teens Counselling | Consulting: Training, Keynote
Addresses, Executive / Leadership Coaching, Customized Workshops and Conferences
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