The “Muddy Middle” … From Setback to Comeback

Oh, the misery of setbacks. And the joy of comebacks! While they present opposite feelings, they’re really two ends to the same situation. The setback is the extreme learning end, and the comeback is the extreme success end. The journey between these extremes is where the magic happens. When faced with minor setbacks, the path to success can be relatively smooth. However, life often presents with more formidable challenges, requiring us to navigate through what I call the “muddy middle”.

The “muddy middle” is where true learning occurs. I conjure up images of being stuck up to my hips in mud!... “ Frustrating! Stuck! I don’t want to be here! I have no time for this! Ughhhhhh!” It’s a place of struggle, demanding significant time, energy, and perseverance. Yet, it’s precisely this struggle that makes the eventual comeback so exhilarating and sweet. It’s in these moments that we forge our confidence and earn our success. The greater the challenge, the more rewarding the victory.

Consider my personal journey with technology. For years, it has been my Achilles’ heel. My previous roles required only basic tech skills, leaving me ill-prepared for today’s digital landscape. Now, as I strive to catch up, the learning curve feels dauntingly steep. Gone are the days of comprehensive manuals; they’ve been replaced by an abundance of online resources that often assume prior knowledge. For a novice like me, this new learning paradigm presents the challenge of growing basic skills while at the same time keeping up with fast-paced tech advances. It feels like climbing Mt. Everest. I tell myself things like, “It’s too hard. I’ll never be

able to understand this technology. I feel helpless and stuck.” Hello, Setback.

But, here’s the silver lining: as I grasp the fundamentals, the learning process is accelerating. As I break complex processes into manageable steps, I’m becoming more familiar with each function and the pieces are starting to fall into place. Through trial and error, painful as it is, I’m gaining ground on learning the technology, and I begin to believe in myself again. I gain some confidence and tell myself I can do it after all. It’s a journey that requires patience and persistence – a true test of “Trusting the Process”. And believe me, that process is very real. Hello, Muddy Middle.

Then, in a moment of revelation, everything clicks into place… and all is well with the world again. The fog of frustration and failure lifts, and I find myself navigating this once-daunting tech landscape with new confidence. Learning becomes more manageable, and my mindset tells me a story about my capability, confidence, and success, where I’m a winner. I feel a surge of hard-earned accomplishment and I believe in myself again, laying the foundation for continued success. Hello, Comeback!

So, how can you successfully navigate when things feel hard and unattainable? This time-tested advice rings true more than ever…

• Focus on one thing at a time, and Trust the Process

• Practice self-compassion and patience

• Cultivate perseverance and belief in yourself.

• Start now. There will never be a perfect time.

• Leverage your strengths.

• Seek mentorship and guidance.

While these principles make sense intellectually, implementing them during a setback can be challenging. And being reminded by others in the heat of the moment often backfires. The key lies in proactive preparation. Anticipate potential obstacles and devise strategies to overcome them. In my case, in addition to the above advice, I’ve developed a personal action plan to conquer my tech challenges:

• Allocate actual time on the clock, acknowledging that mastering technology cannot be rushed.

• Incorporate regular affirmations: “I AM competent. I AM always learning. I AM successful when I apply myself.”

• Break down the learning objectives into manageable chunks and take good notes for future reference.

Now, I challenge you: What will be your comeback strategy? How will you conquer your setbacks and emerge victorious from the “muddy middle”? Remember, belief in yourself is the first step towards achieving the impossible.

Ready to take action today? Don’t wait for the perfect moment – it may never come. Let’s embark on this transformative journey together. Your comeback story starts here! Contact me at www.MyInSyncCoaching.com

“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Brenda