“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau When there are many things going on at once, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. It is also easy to get sucked into the drama and feel powerless. That happened to me this week as I continued to acclimate to the new year of school here in Culver City Unified School District. I had so many balls in the air that I started to question my ability to make it through it all. I found myself getting upset with a coworker who was also feeling overwhelmed by the amount of items on his plate. Then one of my students reminded me of a valuable tool. She reminded me how important it is to step back and remind myself that I can do it.
I heard a story about a man who had recently started working at a job involving computers. He was not very experienced with the programs that he was required to use and was feeling more and more upset each day. After a week on the job he was ready to quit. Wisely, he called his mother and told her how he was feeling. He felt like there was no chance he would learn what he needed to know in order to be successful in his new job. His mother gave him a simple suggestion. She told him to go into his office and close the door. Then she told him to pull the power plug out of the socket, stand in front of the computer, and remind the computer that he had the power. As silly as it sounds, it worked. The words were a reminder to himself that he was more powerful than the situation he was facing, and that he was capable of learning what needed to be learned.
So much of our success relies upon our ability to stay present to life, even in the face of challenging situations. The ability to remain open to new ideas and solutions rather than run away or get frustrated is something we can all practice and get better at. This is one of the reasons why humor is such an effective tool, and one that I use with my students and with myself. When I am able to laugh at a situation, to find humor in spite of my external conditions, I become receptive to ideas and new ways of looking at things. This receptive state always breeds a sense of connection with the world around me. I never know who or what may come along that holds the key to the door I am trying to open, or the knowledge to solve a problem that I am stuck on. It feels so good when that perfect person, or idea, comes along. I regain my sense of trust in the world and myself.
It is amazing how difficult it can be to convince myself or my students that taking a step back and getting a new perspective will help. This is especially true when frustration levels are high. It is as though the more frustrated we become, the more tangled we get in the problem, and the more difficult it is to find the solution. It is helpful to remember that great minds also used this technique to unlock the secrets of the universe. Albert Einstein would spend time riding his bike, or sitting in quiet contemplation, as a way to open to new ideas, to crack codes that had never been cracked. George Washington Carver would meditate in order to open himself to new understandings of the plants that he worked with. If it was good enough for Einstein and Carver, it is good enough for me.
So, what are you chewing on that has you feeling powerless? Take a step back with the intention of getting a new perspective, and reclaiming your own power. Our minds expand and contract based up the beliefs we hold at any given moment. Like a lens that focuses in and then widens out, sometimes we focus too tightly on the problem, and leave no room to see the solution. So take the time to get a broader perspective, and allow new ideas to come into your awareness. The feeling of relaxing and letting things get done is wonderful. It is a great reminder that we live in a friendly universe. When we choose to trust in life to give us what we need, we are also choosing to trust that we are up for whatever challenges life brings.
Edward Biagiotti is the Inclusion Specialist for Culver City Unified School District. He is also co-host of the popular radio show, Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed, live each week at 3 pm on www.UnityOnlineRadio.org. Visit www.TappingIntoGenius. com for more articles and a free, inspirational parenting download.