One of my favorite exercises with my clients is to talk about the idea of “consider”. As I was getting to know one of my recent clients, gathering an understanding of her wants and needs from the coaching, she mentioned a desire to get back to where she derived joy from her work. I introduced the idea of developing a mental switch she could intentionally flip to “consider”. The concept comes from the idea of considering it all joy when we encounter trouble in our lives. This mental exercise requires us to look beyond the present situation and realize that the outcome of this struggle will be to our ultimate benefit. It is the genesis of the theme “the power of positive thinking”.

In feedback I received from another client, she told me she had taken this idea of considering and turned her attitude around from “I have to” to “I get to”. This mental switch turned her focus to others. She came to understand that certain relationships and certain outcomes from her work were very important to her, so when even an undesirable task related to those was necessary, she could consider that she “gets to” do this for the betterment of that person or cause. Her focus became the outcome rather than the process. As a result, the process itself brings her joy.

It is easy to see how this might apply in a work setting. A difficult boss or co-worker, a project that seems impossible to complete, a mundane part of your job that you will never love to do. Generally, my coaching in these situations centers around two ideas. First, nothing lasts forever. Situations and circumstances are in concept ebb and flow, so if we can focus on what we are learning or how we are developing amid the present circumstances, we’ll get to the other side more quickly than expected. Second, use this time to build your own character by determining how you will conduct yourself so others will not experience this same trouble. Often, that can be done even right now.

This idea of considering can go so much further than just the workplace. Circumstances that are threatening your physical, intellectual, emotional, or spiritual health create the opportunity to “consider” it all joy. If we consider our past, we will see that where we have grown the most is during times when we have had to overcome difficult circumstances. Going forward, maybe we can think of this as turning our attitude from “this sucks” to “this is an opportunity to grow”. Looking through the circumstances to the positive outcome will allow joy to enter the present moment.

When you focus yourself on the well-being of others, this considering becomes more possible and very necessary. Our ability to help others is greatly enhanced by our having experienced what they are going through. This is at the heart of my life coaching. I’ve been there, and this is a positive outcome.

Please do not read this and believe that you should never seek to change your circumstances. Occasionally, it will become necessary to effect change rather than endure. If you are in an abusive relationship or are being asked to do something illegal, immoral, or unethical – as just two examples – you should not remain in those situations. Get help, get out – and be ready to help others do the same. Then, even these circumstances will have caused you to grow and resulted in positive change.

Consider.