A Wren Says

Have you ever gone for a walk in the deep snow? If you are new to the weather phenomenon, you might look at the expanse before you, eagerly take your first step on the thick powdery mound, prep to take your next step, only to realize that you have sunk down, instantly. In order to take that next step it takes energy, an amount of energy you did not expect to expend. What you thought would be a leisurely  ten minutes is extending, longer and longer as you start to sweat in your snowsuit. You begin to question if you can really get to the other side. In that moment, as you start to doubt yourself, is it really that you aren’t capable? Or is it something else?

Maybe you just need new tools.

If you had on a pair of snowshoes, you could get across much more easily. Yes, it would still be bitterly cold, and yes you would still need to expend effort, but it wouldn’t be the herculean task that you were struggling with before. It was never about whether or not you could do it. Rather, the question was whether or not you had the right tools for the job.

As you think about your progress towards your goals, perhaps you find yourself sinking and struggling to make a way. You might be doubting yourself and your capabilities. But again, is it really about whether you can do the job? Or is it whether you have the tools you need to get it done?

Instead of immediately turning inward to judge yourself and tell yourself you could never achieve your goal, it’s time to assess the situation. What is really required to achieve the goal? What tools do you need to make it to the finish line? What are the metaphorical snowshoes you might need to put on instead of letting yourself sink down and struggle?