By Dr. Christine
When Your Own Thinking Gets in the Way
We do this all the time. Did you catch that? I said, “We do this ALL the time.”
Wait… really? Did I just turn something we do sometimes into something we always do? Yep, I sure did.
And isn’t that exactly how we tend to approach life’s challenges?
Let’s say you try swimming for the first time. You sink like a rock, flail around, and sputter to the surface—then you declare, “See? I’ll NEVER learn how to swim!”
Or maybe you decide to try dancing. You stumble through the steps, trip over your own feet, step on someone else’s toes, and feel completely ridiculous. So, naturally, you conclude, “I told you! I have two left feet. I’ll NEVER be able to dance.”
Or, take my experience with rollerblading. I put on a helmet, knee pads, and even cushioned my rear just in case—which, of course, turned out to be necessary. I fell. A lot. And that was the first and last day of my rollerblading career. When I moved, I gave those skates away, deciding once and for all that I would never master them. I assigned permanence to something that was completely changeable.
What about the areas in life where giving up has bigger consequences?
What if you start college but convince yourself it’s too hard? Or you try learning to drive but decide you just don’t have what it takes? Or you go on a date, feel awkward and nervous, and then conclude you’re just not meant to find love?
Falling on my rear while rollerblading only cost me a hobby. But imagine how refusing to learn to drive could limit someone’s independence? How avoiding relationships out of fear of failure could lead to loneliness?
Yet, many of us do this every day. We hit an obstacle, label it as permanent, and give up on growth.
What If You Saw Setbacks Differently?
What if, instead of viewing difficulties as signs that we should quit, we saw them as opportunities to try again? What if we approached every challenge with the mindset that most things aren’t permanent, but rather stepping stones toward growth?
For me, I’ve learned to rely on God in these moments. When I face something hard, I turn to the Holy Spirit for strength. Because His promise is clear: “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13
Are you willing to ask God for help?
I won’t promise you’ll see me on rollerblades anytime soon—I’m not as fearless as I used to be! But I will keep learning, growing, and pushing past challenges. Will you?
If you’re ready to move past the roadblocks in your life, I’d love to walk alongside you. Book your online coaching package today—it would be my honor to help you grow into the person God created you to be.
If you’re ready to move past the roadblocks in your life, I’d love to walk alongside you. Book your online coaching package today—it would be my honor to help you grow into the person God created you to be.
