Our brains have the answers!

Written By Jessica Shanor

Last week I hit a roadblock on my strategic plan for my 2023 revenue goal. Suddenly I was stuck. I realized I would not have enough hours in the day to accomplish my goal. 

It was a time thing. And I can’t produce more time.

Sure I can be more efficient in my time, but that wasn’t the solution. As I looked at my group coaching hours and my 1:1 coaching hours, something would have to give. I couldn’t see the answer and I felt stuck.  

I knew my brain could find the solution. But how?  

My first step was to calculate the coaching hours and double check my math. Once I confirmed that I was stuck, I found wrote the problem in one sentence. “In order to achieve my revenue goals, I don’t have the actual hours to offer 1:1 coaching to my program clients.” But I love 1:1 coaching and my clients do too! 

I knew I needed to process this as my body was increasingly showing signs of anxiety. I reached out to a few friends, but none were available. So again, I told myself that my brain could solve this problem. I stepped away from my office for a few hours. I gave myself permission to explore different thoughts and possible solutions. I wasn’t anxious or frantic. I was calm, staying in a place of curiosity. And then it came to me. I would have a choice to make and I set myself up to be happy with either side of this choice. My brain has the answers and holds the keys. 

If you are stuck, here are some simple steps that have helped me.

  1. Write out the problem in one sentence.

  2. Find a time to step away from your present environment.  (go for a walk, go to the library, or a coffee shop)

  3. Give yourself permission to be curious and explore your thoughts.  Sometimes I won’t write anything down until I come up with a possible solution.  

  4. Once I have a possible solution, I write it down and “try it on” for a while. I don’t have to commit, I can just take it a few steps further and think about how it makes me feel and what actions I might take.

  5. If all of that feels good, then I trust myself to move forward.

  6. An alternative option- hire a coach! Talking through problems, issues and roadblocks can be lifechanging!     

Jessica Shanor

Jessica is a Certified Life Coach and Master Performance Consultant. She has invested her career in helping her clients (both companies and individuals) in the areas of problem-solving, finding pathways to success, team dynamics, working with leadership to cast vision and creating workplace environment to equip employees to reach their full potential. Jessica is a mother to three teenagers, has been happily married for 21 years and resides in the mountains of beautiful Western North Carolina. When she’s not coaching her clients (which is her ultimate passion,) she enjoys hiking, playing tennis and spending time with her family at the ocean.

https://jessicashanor.com
Next

Doubt does not negate the dream.