Progress vs. Paralysis
The following blog entry may seem very vague and that is, indeed, my intention. I truly believe the process I outline by the example of my own struggles can be applied to anyone with any obstacle.
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When did I allow myself to become a prisoner? How did I get so stuck when normally I can be very efficient at coming up with creative solutions? What was my current situation telling me about how I viewed the world and did I still view the world in this way or was I just allowing what's always been to hold me captive?Once it occurred to me to ask these questions, I was able to take a step or two, if not forward at least laterally, which still helped me to move from where I'd felt frozen. As I began to think things through, I was reminded of why I was where I was at as I stumbled upon similar obstacles to the ones that had been the original cause of my paralysis. The situation felt all too familiar and, at that point, it would have been very easy and convenient for me to just accept that things had to remain status quo. However, not easily defeated, I took the familiar path of putting my mind to work in my "patterned problem solving" methodical way. I observed myself and could predict this technique's outcome."If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got." Remembering this quote that had had a great impact on me in the past, I altered my approach a bit. Still keeping the familiarity of my independence and my need to be actively involved in solving my own problems, I made a different choice and reached out to those who could assist me in areas where I just didn't have enough information to make an informed decision.No, I didn't rely on others to make the decision for me, but yes, I did ask for guidance...making sure, of course, that each knew I would make up my own mind in the end (even if it veered away from the guidance I'd been given). I didn't want specific answers; only options and choices that I had been unable to access on my own.I found that once I made the decision, things either began to flow smoothly indicating I was on the correct path or I began to hit every roadblock which clued me in to slowing down and reassessing if I had made an appropriate decision.Sometimes it's just that simple...