Turning Obstacles into Opportunity

What obstacle will you turn into an opportunity this week? 
Last summer we dug a moat in front of the house and laid all new tiling to solve the problem of water pressure from the thick clay pushing against the retaining wall along the path to BMK. 
For a week I got to pretend I lived in a castle and resisted the urge to put fake alligators in it. It wasn’t in the plans, but we did what we needed to. 
Fast forward a few months and new and dangerous cracks appeared in the wall. The moat didn’t solve the problem. The entire wall needed to be removed, the clay dug out and a new retaining wall built. 
I saw my budget for the year flash before my eyes. 
But I also saw the opportunity. 
Stoicism teaches the importance of recognizing what is in your control and what isn’t and instead of wasting energy being upset about things outside of your control, looking for ways to turn things to your benefit. 
Find the opportunity in the obstacle. 
I couldn’t change the fact that the retaining wall had to come down or that we had to dig up the garden we had just landscaped last summer. 
But I could choose my response, my attitude and how I used that obstacle to my advantage. 
This was an opportunity to extend the boulder wall and help make the path to BMK feel that much more unique and special. 
And when the wall wasn’t able to be completely removed and a section remained, I saw it as an opportunity to build a bench for people to sit and watch the goats and chickens play as they waited for others to arrive for an event or pick up kids from camp. 
Stoicism doesn’t promote toxic positivity, it does promote acknowledging reality, and moving forward from there. It isn’t always easy. I have been challenged by much more difficult obstacles than a cracked retaining wall, but have forced myself each time to find the opportunity. Sometimes it is just an opportunity to be a better person. 
Every obstacle is a training opportunity in life. 
I love doing workshops on this and helping leaders, teams and organizations change their mindset around obstacles. It is powerful and translates to all parts of life. 
I had to go through the process of replacing this wall regardless of my attitude. So why have a bad one? What good would that do?
Instead I got to enjoy the process, and find pleasure in helping create it. 
Start small this week, when an obstacle comes your way, get curious, and look at what benefit you can gain from it. 

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About Becky

Becky Schmooke (pronounced “Smoke”) is a Mindful Leadership Consultant and Speaker, focused on providing action based mindfulness and leadership training to organizations and businesses who are ready to do things differently.

Becky’s Mindful Kitchen, is located outside of Iowa City, and provides truly unique team building and leadership retreats, strategic planning workshops, private parties and classes and weekly summer camps for kids. The commercial teaching kitchen, treehouse, archery range, bush craft skills, first aid training, wood fired pizza oven, chickens, baby goats and timber adventure playground provides endless opportunities for hands on activities.

As a mom to three girls, 60 chickens, 4 goats, 2 dogs and a fire fighter’s wife- life is never boring and provides Becky with endless stories which she uses to illustrate her approach to mindfulness in daily posts on social media.

In all that she does, Becky has one goal, to build confidence in others to take action to live their best life, not just pass time.

Follow For Daily Posts and Baby Goat Videos!

About Becky

In all that she does, Becky has one goal, to build confidence in others to take action to live their best life, not just pass time.