Is It Time to Take a New Approach?

Sometimes, life can feel really difficult. Usually, it is when things are not living up to our expectations of how we want them to go, or how we think it should be. In times like these, it is helpful to take a new approach. 

Approach the Problem Differently

I had a very good laugh at myself as I struggled to climb up on this rock last week. Oh, and trust me – my daughters had an even bigger laugh! The rock doesn’t look that big, but boy was it awkward! I can be super stubborn, and I was determined to get up on that thing! I eventually scrambled and heaved my way up there – only to realize that the ground beneath the rock was sloped.

The opposite side that I had climbed was much more suited to my “height challenges”. In all of my struggling, it hadn’t even occurred to me to walk around the rock to find a different path. Sometimes, we need to stop what we are doing, and see if it is time to take a new approach to the problem. 

Adjust Your Perspective 

Sometimes, the problem is in fact our own perspective and expectations of ourselves that need to be checked. For example, imagine you are just embracing exercise after years of inactivity, and you decide to work out five days a week for an hour at a time. That is a very ambitious goal, and one that may not be realistic. There is a good chance that you will skip a day, then feel bad about yourself, and maybe quit completely. 

This is a chance to change your thoughts, from “I missed a workout, so I’ll never reach my goals,” to something that honours where you are at, and where you want to go. “I worked out three times this week, and my body feels great!”

On the other end of the spectrum, imagine you are a runner who has been committed to a solid routine, and are training for your next marathon. You have a running plan in place, are working with a coach, and in your mind you feel that you must do the plan exactly as it is laid out. 

Then life hands you a challenge, such as a pulled muscle, a sick child, or extra work meetings. So you don’t have it in you to train that day, or to push yourself to meet that day’s goal. Rather than quit, take a new approach. First, change how you are thinking, then how you execute. 

Read: Dealing with Life’s Curveballs

Skipping one day won’t derail your whole training. Or choose to run slower, or a different route, or shorter. When we are wrapped up in the end goal, it can be hard to take a step back and remember that one or two skipped runs doesn’t mean you can’t run the marathon. 

Take a New Approach, But Never Quit! 

Changing your mindset or approach is not an excuse to never push yourself. Rather, I’m hoping you will be kinder to yourself mentally, which in turn will make it easier to reach your goals and to keep going when times get tough.

If you are having trouble keeping yourself on track, maybe it is time to talk! Signing up for a class or working with a personal trainer is a great tool to keep yourself held accountable, while keeping your mindset focused.