4 Ways to Stop Resisting Breakthrough
You might be working so hard for a breakthrough that you push it away.
I’m convinced that some breakthroughs are missed because we have the wrong expectations. A breakthrough doesn’t arrive on schedule.
We miss breakthrough because it breaks through unexpectedly.
The context of breakthrough:
The soil of breakthrough is fertilized with things you typically work to eliminate.
- Doubt.
- Fear.
- Confusion.
The way to experience breakthrough is by stepping into doubt, fear, and confusion.
Breakthroughs don’t happen when you’re filled with certainty.
A leader filled with clarity doesn’t need a breakthrough.
You spend too much time trying to control circumstances and too little time stepping into things you’d like to avoid.
You don’t control a breakthrough; you step into it.
4 ways to stop resisting breakthrough:
#1. Bend your knees when the boat starts rocking.
Breakthroughs are born during instability. Find balance by increasing flexibility.
A need for clarity is an opportunity for breakthrough.
Instability creates receptivity.
#2. Look for ways to add value.
Doubt, fear, and confusion invite ‘smart’ people to focus on themselves. A breakthrough can’t penetrate the wall of protection we build for ourselves.
Breakthrough happens while seeking ways to serve others.
There is no way to guarantee that the right opportunities are chosen. But it is certain that the right opportunities will not be selected unless we focus on bringing value to others.
#3. Go with your highest point of confidence.
Doubt and fear scream when you step forward. But the only way to breakthrough is to find enough confidence to play with uncertainty.
The greatest risk during breakthrough moments is the risk of doing nothing.
Step forward when you feel like stepping back.
#4. Require a ‘with’.
You make more progress WITH than you do alone as long as your WITH isn’t an anchor.
What prevents people from finding breakthrough?
How might leaders best find breakthrough?
How might leaders best find breakthrough?
I find breakthrough ideas when I meditate. When my mind is open, still, and present–some interesting ideas pop in on occasion!
“A need for clarity is an opportunity for breakthrough.”
This is a great reminder of the importance of writing down our questions and concerns. By thoughtfully setting those up — and perhaps praying about them, boiling those questions down and asking others about them — it allows us to be READY to see the breakthrough.
Thank you for this crucial and excellent reminder!
Some breakthroughs are missed if we fail to keep an open mind to “expect the unexpected.” Many of today’s common-day items occurred by happenstance while in the pursuit of something more … sticky notes, microwave ovens, chewing gum (chiclets), and so many more.
Some of my most significant “breakthrough moments” were the result of my habits of broad professional reading (outside my vocation) and cultivating an equally broad, mutually supportive network of friends and allies in many occupational fields. This often gave me new perspectives on problems and issues, and allowed me to access “fresh eyes” to examine situations that had me stymied. These resources served me well in both my personal and professional pursuits.
That’s a wonderful reminder, Jim. Thanks for jumping into the conversation. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been reading Mark Twain and biographies of Dr. Seuss. Maybe it’s getting away from the leadership focus that opens my mind.