Stuck

Last summer I was changing a light fixture in the basement because the old fluorescent bulbs are not as efficient or cost-effective as the new LED fixtures. After looking at options, it made the most sense. The old fixture took a bit of work to remove, but when I was ready to hook up the new one, I found out that the wires were not long enough to reach the part of the fixture where it connected to the existing wires. A feeling of panic filled me, followed by the dejection of failure. I would need to call an electrician to come and rewire the basement so that this new fixture would work, or else I would have to try and reinstall the old fixture and deal with that. Just about the time I was ready to give up and call the electrician, I had the thought that someone else would have to come down and figure out the right thing to do to make this all work, and I wondered what they would have to do. At first, I saw them ripping out wire to find a junction box and running new wire to the light, but then I guessed that they might just put in a new junction box, cut the wires a little shorter, and use a short piece of wire to extend to the fixture. Since this was something that they were going to do, I decided to try it myself. It worked.

Later I was thinking about the whole experience. I had hit a dead end, but when I considered what someone else would do to move forward, I was able to try that myself. “I am not a person who can do this, but if I was that kind of person, what would I do? Maybe I could try that.” Since then, I have used that with some of my coaching clients, and I’ve been amazed by what it has unlocked for people. “I’m not a person who can work well with an overly demanding boss, but if I were that kind of person, I would probably do this.” “I am not able to have hard conversations with my colleagues, but if I were that type of person, I would probably have a conversation that looked like this.” It has been powerful and effective.

Maybe there is some panic and dejection in your life that you can use to fuel a way forward for what you need to do next. Maybe it would be helpful to have a thinking partner for that type of exercise. If so, I am always happy to help, so please Contact Us.