Turn a challenge into a triumph
Timeline your journey
Happy Friday, Intentionalists!
Most of us don’t like problems. When our plans are thwarted or something goes haywire, the situation is usually met with a rolling of eyes and a bunch of expletives.
Yet, some people get excited when faced with a challenge. Think of mathematics professors or Rubik’s cube enthusiasts. Their senses become heightened, their breathing becomes steady, and their attention narrows on the task of solving the problem. This is called ‘rising to the occasion’.
Imagine if we could all harness that sort of mindset when faced with a challenge. The good news is that we can!
Grab your journal and a pen and discover how to turn a challenge into a triumph.
JOURNAL PROMPTS
1. Write down a challenge you are currently facing
E.g. you are $10,000 in debt, you’ve lost your job, you are in an intimate relationship/friendship where you are not valued or respected, etc
2. What would the end result of solving that problem look like?
E.g. you have paid off the $10,000 debt, you have gotten another job similar to the one you had, you have ended the intimate relationship/friendship that is causing you to suffer, etc
Now take a step back and imagine how solving that problem would make you feel. We’re guessing you would feel relieved. But would you feel inspired? Probably not.
3. Now, think about what would be the exact opposite of the problem you are facing
E.g. Instead of being $10,000 in debt, you are now $10,000 in surplus. You have a new job with better pay and conditions than your previous one. You have a new intimate relationship/friendship where you are valued and loved.
Creating the exact opposite of the problem feels so much more inspiring, even if you have no idea how you will achieve it – yet!
The challenge is now exciting - and possibly a bit daunting - because you are going to have to stretch and try different things in order to achieve your aim. Yet, it’s in becoming a bigger version of yourself each time you meet a challenge that gives life its juice. On a spiritual level, it might even be the reason challenges appear in the first place.
4. Imagine yourself in the future as the person who not only solved their challenge but turned it into a triumph. Now from that perspective, look back at the person you are today. Write down five major steps that you took to get from where you started to where you finished up.
For instance, in the example of going from $10,000 in debt to $10,000 in surplus did you: Work out a savings plan? Seek the help of a financial coach or read a book on personal finances? Get a second job or upskill so you can get a higher-paying job? etc
Now take those five major steps above and break each one down into ten smaller steps
E.g. go to the library or bookstore and get a book on personal finance, read a chapter a day, ring a friend and see if they have any positions open in their company, etc
Of those smaller steps, circle the one you’re going to complete before the end of today. Then in your diary, mark the times when you’re going to do the other smaller steps. If your challenge is urgent, you might have to do more than one step a day.
Now, the part that none of us likes about travelling from where we are to where we want to be is what we might call the ‘darkest hour’. This is the part of the journey when we’re going to have to push through something uncomfortable to reach our triumphant moment.
E.g. this could be having to work two jobs for a while to get out of debt and create some savings, or it could be breaking off an intimate relationship/friendship that isn’t working for us, etc
5. What might that ‘darkest hour’ be for you?
Draw a timeline of where you are, then where the darkest hour will be, and then where your future self will end up. Mark the darkest hour with an ‘X’.
Underneath the X on your timeline, write down five things you are going to do to support your well-being when you go through that ‘darkest hour’
E.g. get adequate sleep, spend time with positive friends, seek professional help.
Then look at the end of the line where you have not only solved your problem but triumphed. Write down how that is going to feel
E.g. triumphant, happy, accomplished, etc
Also, write how you are going to reward yourself when you get there
E.g go to dinner with your favourite friends to celebrate, take a weekend break, etc
Did you feel that looking at the timeline of challenge to triumph gave you more courage and determination to make the journey? Do you feel you’ll be better able to handle the ‘darkest hour’ that might come up on the journey? Are you excited about having a positive destination to reach?
Some challenges are painful and heartbreaking, and we would never make light of them. But some problems are just annoying aspects of life. If that’s your situation, we suggest you take a light-hearted approach and have a bit of fun as you face your challenge.
Could you have a theme song you play just before you are about to tackle your problem? (Belinda plays the theme from Rocky before she undertakes a structural edit on one of her books). Could you have a special outfit or perfume you wear when working on your problem? Could you role-play an empowering character eg Superman or Wonder Woman?
We hope today’s post has given you some ideas about how you can turn a challenge you are facing into a triumph. But most of all, we hope that we have given you the courage to know that you can do it. Wishing you all the best.
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FEEL GOOD AFFIRMATION
I am strong and capable of overcoming any challenge that comes my way.
(Say or write out this affirmation slowly ten times)
KELLY’S SILLY BIT
When was the last time you got the giggles?
Did you know, when you were 4 years old, you would have been merrily chuckling away around 300 times a day? But by the time we hit 40, that's whittled away to just FOUR PISSING PIDDLY LAUGHS* That sucks. We all deserve a good crease up!
*Stat from here
So really, when was the last time, you had uncontrollable belly laughs? If it was ages ago, I want you to add this to your to-do list for me. As important as getting that litre of milk on the way home today, ok?
It's great for your body and mind
It's a stress relief
It boosts your mood
Gives you more oxygen
Has a similar effect to exercise.
And it's CONTAGIOUS! Have you ever been on public transport or at work and someone is listening to something that's making them cackle and you can’t help but join in, even though you have no idea what’s so funny?
Now, of course, comedy is subjective but I present you with two of my favourite clips of people getting the giggles that make me guffaw each time:
1. From Laurel and Hardy’s movie Blotto. Stan is amazing in this scene, his laughter becomes this thing, growing and growing. It reminds me of being with my best mates.
If you have three minutes:
2. Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig were promoting their film Skeleton Twins and the way Bill answers a question makes Kristen cry from laughing. It’s glorious.
If you have a minute thirty-five:
Both are very silly. My favourite.
If neither of these clips are your jam, seek out something you know will tickle your funny bone, and if it’s a clip of something, please share it in the comments so we can laugh with you!
Be an intentionalist.
Belinda & Kelly XX
PS - Feel free to click the ♡ button on this post so more people can discover it on Substack and please be sure to tell us what you think in the comments!