6 Tips To Focus On Things You Can Control Through Change And Challenge

Here are some habits I have used when I have been faced with challenges, stress, and uncertainty. If you are going through a challenge or an adjustment period, here are 6 things that can help you navigate more efficiently:

1. Face The Challenge Head On

Oftentimes we’re so worried about the outcome that we don’t want that we never face it head on and create a clear plan for how to move forward. We say things like "I can't allow ___ to fail" and we're so worried about what we don't want to happen that if we aren't careful we can start looking for places to point the blame.

When were faced with that challenge or need to make an adjustment we have to first take personal accountability, and then ask yourself, if I continue to do what I'm doing, will I have any regrets? In that question notice I said what “I’m doing” not focusing on anything externally.

When you focus on you and the actions you can take you will be more prepared to attack your challenge.

2. Determine What You Can Control

Determine the items and actions you can control, and focus all of your effort on those habits moving forward. You can't control the outcome but you can ALWAYS control the inputs that influence the outcome that you want with your habits, consistency, and effort.

It's important to have a "now what" mentality. No matter what the challenge is, we need to respond with ____ happened, now what am I going to do to influence the next outcome, and not waste anytime focusing on what has already happened or who's fault it was.

3. Seek Advice, not counsel- Differentiate between complaining and problem-solving

It’s important to be aware of our thinking, and the things we are talking about especially in moments of uncertainty and stress, or challenge- are the thoughts you’re having productive?

Replaying conversations in your head or imagining catastrophic outcomes over and over again isn't helpful. But solving a problem is. Instead of replaying the facts back in your head over and over, ask yourself how you would advise someone who asked you what they're next move should be.

Are the conversations your having with others productive, are you getting advice, or complaining about what happened. So many times in our social circles we focus on the things we can’t control, without being aware of it. So pay attention to how and what you talk about when your going through challenges. If you are actively solving a problem, trying to find ways to increase your chances of success, keep working on solutions.

If however, you're wasting your time gossiping about the past, or complaining to others how it should be, or having a victim mentality, it’s time to change your mentality. It's important that you are able to acknowledge and be aware when your thoughts aren't productive and when you're having conversations with others that aren’t productive so that you can make the necessary adjustments.

4. Develop triggers

A trigger is something that signals to you what you should be doing. In moments of challenge and uncertainty and stress, create triggers around the actions you need to take, and for how you need to think to accomplish your goal. Create triggers for how you want to show up, how you want to think, and operate, so that way you don't have to think about those things, and they aren't affected by emotions with things that are going on or how your feeling.

Phrases and mantras can also help you to get refocused in those stressful moments to help you shift your mindset.

5. Reflect & Learn

In life there will constantly be new challenges, so it's important that we learn how to master our responses to them. Reflect back on times when you’ve both had outcomes you’ve wanted and undesired outcomes are key to gaining wisdom and insight. What changes or adjustments could have been made? What in the past was the reason for your success?

Again the key here when reflecting is to reflect on your actions, your energy, and your effort, not to reflect on the outcome, or anything else that you have no control over.

6. Create a plan to manage your stress

It’s important that you have a consistent game plan for how you will manage your stress so you can operate more efficiently. Personally working out 6 days a week, meditation, and reading are a few things I do to manage stress.

A few major benefits of working out is that it helps to manage stress and anxiety which are two factors that are present when were faced with challenge, uncertainty, or may be in the middle of a pivot.

It also helps to increase your energy and vibrancy as well. Create a game plan for all of the things you consistently for you stress management.