Expect hurdles

 

EXPECT THE HURDLE 

The last piece of research I have done this year involved talking to government school teachers and officers from the education department. I heard the usual challenges, complaints, and frustrations and then I also heard some very inspiring stories. 

All of them were grappling with similar problems but there was one difference between those who were able to rise about circumstances and those who were not. 

The former set of individuals when started working on a project started with the expectation that ‘they would encounter hurdles’ all along the way towards their goals. The latter set of individuals expected nothing should come in the way of their goals. A small difference in beliefs made all the difference. 

The first set treated the hurdle like a comma or maybe a semi-colon, and the second set treated the hurdle like a full stop not just for that particular project but also anything that was being proposed in the future. 

The first set found themselves to be resourceful and solution-oriented. The second set sounded more fatalistic and seeped into the problem-oriented mindset - hence couldn’t think of, see, or try out solutions even if those were within reach. 

On a bell curve, the second set would form the belly of the curve, and the first you would find at its tail end. 

What if, the people in the second group started on a project and before that were told - ‘expect some hurdles…I’m sure you will find those but treat them not as full stops. Rather think of those as pit-stops to re-strategize and move ahead. I am hopeful this shift in perspective will nudge at least some if not all to think of goals and goal achievement differently. 

As the year draws to a close and we all set some audacious goals for ourselves, my new year wish to you this year is ‘expect some hurdles’