The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus once famously said “Change is the only constant.”
One of the greatest Solution-Focused strategists, Milton Erickson identified “Change is inevitable” as a guiding principle. And these words certainly could not be any truer today. We live in a fast-paced world where different demands are constantly being made of us on a daily basis. Then throw into the mix the COVID-19 pandemic and the upheaval it wreaked on society. Arguably, there has never been a time period of greater global uncertainty in the last 70 years.
Amidst all of the noise, fear and confusion, it’s essential that we stay focused on the outcomes that we want from life. Solution-Focused coaching can greatly assist you to draw upon the powerful resources you already have in order to meet the demands of a changing and uncertain world, head-on.
Let’s take a look at two key Solution-Focused strategies that help to build resilience and resourcefulness in overcoming uncertainty.
1. Focus on The Positive
This sounds too cliché to work, right? And we are certainly not suggesting that you simply “affirm your way into positivity”, “paint a pig with lipstick and call it pretty” or fall into the unhealthy trap of toxic positivity. However, you’d be surprised how effective focusing on something positive (i.e. person, place or thing) is at overcoming the fearful and irrational internal dialogue in your brain! Learn to shift your brain’s attention towards things that are positive and achievable”.
Bringing self-discipline, attention and mindfulness to your thoughts and really directing yourself to focus on what is enjoyable, doable and positive is essential to building a state of resilience and will build up your resourcefulness in dealing with challenges. Check out these cool Solution-Focused strategies on how to coach yourself and others towards positive change and use these techniques to help overcome uncertainties.
2. Mind your own business
Your mind and its health have to be your main business. If you want to get better at managing fear and uncertainty it’s important to focus on self care, your own lotus of control and mentally embracing change. Choose to view uncertainty as an opportunity to see new possibilities to grow and to change. Acknowledging that you live in a rapidly changing world over which you have little control is liberating. Truly, the only thing that you have any real control over is your own mind and while you cant control uncertainty you can control your mind, what you focus on and how you choose to overcome fears that are triggered by uncertainty.
You must be the driver, and not the passenger when it comes to owning your own decisions and reactions to external stimuli. Focusing on what is possible, positive and what outcome you want are solid solution focused strategies to overcome uncertainty and access resourcefulness instead.
These two powerful Solution-Focused strategies empower you to embrace the constantly changing world in which we live whilst living out your purpose in life. Staying solutions-focused can be difficult at times; however, in the words of Eckhart Tolle: “If uncertainty is unacceptable to you, it turns into fear. If it is perfectly acceptable, it turns into increased aliveness, alertness, and creativity.”
