We had family visiting town the past few days. We had all kinds of activities planned. One of them was an Escape Room.
Last year we did an Escape Room adventure when they visited, but last year we had our niece’s boyfriend and his friend in our group. They’re both engineers. We knew that was beneficial, but we found out just how beneficial when we didn’t have them in our group this year. What I noticed most of all is how beneficial it is to have someone on your team that is open to all possibilities.
I think of myself as a creative problem solver, but I also think of myself as someone who doesn’t think fast on my feet. To be successful in an escape room, it helps to think fast on your feet. It also helps to believe that there are multiple solutions and anything you encounter could be part of the solution. You have to be willing to try anything and be open to anything being possible. You have to be willing to not understand, knowing that as you get more clues, you can figure it all out, given enough time.
Last year, with the engineers in our midst, we solved the problem and escaped with plenty of time left over. I believe we did this because of their engineering mindset. They were willing to be wrong sometimes, but keep working, knowing there was a solution. Engineers seem to have a mindset that they can figure anything out if they just keep trying and keep finding different ways to think about the problem.
How is this similar to your life? How often do you quit before you even start something that you think will be hard? How often are you willing to try and fail? Do you see everything as if it could be part of the solution to your problem? Are you open to multiple solutions? Are you committed to keep trying things until you find something that works for you?
My clients have done this. I’ve done this in my life. It is how my brain is designed. My brain does this to help me survive. What I’ve learned to recognize is that I don’t JUST want to survive. I want to thrive. And in order to thrive, I sometimes need to override the survival instinct of my lower brain. I notice when my lower brain wants to do this and I question it with my higher brain. I decide on purpose what is best for me. And that’s what allows me to open up to all of the possibilities. That’s what allows me to see everything as part of the solution. That’s what allows me to solve problems from a place of curiosity, creativity, and possibility.
What about you? Do you assume that you’re just not the kind of person that figures out money? Do you believe that the solution doesn’t apply to you? What if you could believe that you absolutely have the solution? Would you continue trying until you figure it out? What if you really do have all the answers that you seek?