I have worked out that people have two choices to iterate themselves by. You habitually are either problem-centric or solution oriented.
Of course, you might begin any situation by just seeing the problems associated with it. But at the end, your default mindset takes over.
If you are problem centric, you often get stuck. You won't be able to imagine, let alone see a way out from a predicament. Often, it debilitates and angers you.
On the other hand, when your mind is always tuned to finding solutions, you may take a beat to worry about the problem, but you will approach every situation with confidence in your ability to solve it.
How is it that some people do so well at this, while others spend a lifetime struggling?
It really does come down to your mental habits.
First of all, you probably realise by now that the only constant in life is change. So, decide how you choose to view change and any potential discomfort. For some, a change from your routine is just monumentally inconvenient and scary. For others, you can see change coming with new opportunities.
Even for those of you who can embrace change, there will always be new problems and difficult situations.
But, when you become skilled at quickly surmounting problems as they emerge, you become more effective at taking advantage of any opportunity that lies within a tricky situation. This always gives you the edge to determine the outcomes of any situation.
If you don't want to struggle with problems, you need to realise that you can actually take control of your own destiny by focusing your energy on solutions, rather than be debilitated by inertia.
It's all in the way you think; your mindset. What's your predominant state of mind? What you think about, focus on, and expect from your daily experiences, enhances or decreases your capacity to sort stuff out.
When you focus your energy on developing solutions, you cultivate the mindset that creates success.
Easy right? Yes and no! It is easy to understand, but it takes conscious and deliberate action to make it who you are. Here's what I do.
Start by being purpose driven.
When things will get tough, as they always do, it's critical to be very clear about what you want, and why you want it. Staying in a solution-focused mindset demands that you figure this out, and do not let obstacles deter you in any way.
If I hit a roadblock, I refocus on the positive feelings I've felt when striving for success; when I have successfully broken-down barriers, and reached my goals in the past. And I know I want to recreate this feeling, and I make this emotion visceral. This keeps me in motion, and doesn't mentally derail me.
In my leadership coaching and consulting work, I am most in awe of people who can decide what they want to be. They cultivate a particular and peculiar mindset to get there.
It's hardly about luck and serendipity. They seem to be always prepared for opportunity.
Confidence, determination, discipline, and flexibility seem to be the hallmark of those you might see as just being "lucky".
Confidence helps you feel ready for everything life throws at you. When you are confident, you move forward with people and opportunities, not back away from them. You have an expansive, rather than a contracting mind, which allows for this.
People who trust their own efficacy neither blindly say yes to something nor object to it because they don't have the know-how. They reflect, and juxtapose every situation against their purpose and pivot accordingly. Now this is confidence.
Next is determination. Determination is the act of settling on your purpose, then ploughing through even as you face complications. This emotion increases your chances of being successful, and it keeps you motivated to continue striving towards the one thing you want to achieve.
It's not that people who are determined don't have self-doubt. They do! But their mindset quickly helps them to keep going for what they aim for. They simply don't settle down until they work this out.
You will notice that successful people have stability and structure in their life. This is called discipline.
Personal discipline is essential for the character of a person. It teaches you to be responsible and respectful. You know that the observance of well-defined rules is the basis of any society. It promotes good human behaviour to make your community better and make it a more enjoyable place for everyone to live in.
Similarly, when you nurture this mindset, you become acutely aware of how you behave and more importantly how you need to behave to collaborate with others, and find solutions.
Finally, don't be rigid.
When you have a flexible attitude, you'll have no problem accepting changes. To be flexible means to be willing to adapt to change. Be flexible with your attitude, but don't compromise on your purpose and principles.
So, have you worked out if you are problem-centric or solution oriented?
Shankar R. Santhiram is managing consultant and executive leadership coach at EQTD Consulting. He is also the author of the national bestseller "So, You Want To Get Promoted?"
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times