Solution-Focused Mindset: Thoughts
I often would find myself in a cycle of negative thoughts. When things were going bad for me it seemed like I couldn’t get myself to look at the positive. Sometimes it just seemed so hard to get going, to focus on what needed to change, or to break negative thoughts and behaviors.
Do you ever feel like it’s just easier to avoid the pain of getting to the root of the issue? Or maybe it’s just the thought of where and how to start that exhausts you.
The reality is that you need to encourage problem-free thoughts and actions. Take time to explore your strengths and resources rather than concentrating on your problems and deficits. Notice the things that are going well in your life and the parts of your goal that are already happening.
Problem talk and thinking is natural, however the more you think about the problem, the bigger and more difficult it seems to become. This type of thinking rarely helps you find the solution; it will make you an expert of the problem and does little to help you decide what to do next. Instead, focus on solution thinking.
Ask yourself:
What is going well?
Was there a time when this problem was a little bit better?
What were you doing differently during the time things were better?
How confident are you that something can be done about your problem?
When have you tackled this kind of problem? What was most helpful?
What skills and resources did you discover during this time?
Look for impediments in your thinking and action planning. Behaviors can be difficult to build or can prevent you from moving forward. The following questions will guide you through finding what can be holding you back.
What are you doing that prevents you from moving forward?
What feelings/emotions are preventing you from moving forward?
What is the worst thing that could happen if you try and fail?
What is the worst thing that could happen if you don’t try?
What thoughts are preventing you from moving forward and reaching your solution/goal?
A sense of purpose doesn’t come from thinking about it, it comes from taking action that moves you toward the future. The moment you do this; you activate a force more powerful than the desire to avoid your goals. Most of us choose avoidance and as a result we don’t live up to our full potential, never becoming fully ourselves.
If you would like more information on how to apply this toward achieving your goals, navigate to the course section of this website to gain full access to the Solution-Focused Mindset Course.
