How to move forward when there is no apparent solution to an issue ?
- createinneralchemy
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
What to do when faced with a blocked situation, a problem to which there appears to be no forthcoming solution, and where we see no way forward?
This kind of situation can leave us feeling overwhelmed and stressed, or even anxious. There may be a deadline we need to meet which increases the stress, or high stakes (such as for exams) or we may feel guilty that we’re not moving forward in solving the problem.
The issue is that the very fact that we’re stressed or anxious is limiting our capacity to think optimally and creatively, thus restricting our ability to find solutions.
Indeed, it has been shown that increased levels of cortisol affect the brain in important ways, such as emotional regulation and also the executive functions.
“Executive function encompasses a range of cognitive processes, including attention, decision-making, and problem-solving”.1
Dr Leor Zmigrod, psychologist and neuroscientist, further explains that in stressful situations, cognitive flexibility becomes reduced. Our thinking becomes more rigid, as the body seeks to conserve energy in order to face a threat. In doing that, the exploratory dimension of our reflection, more open to seeing new possibilities, decreases.
While this can be a very useful thing when faced with a sudden, direct but short-lived stress factor, in the case of chronic stress, longer-term or more complex stress sources, it can be a hindrance.
At a neurological level, feeling stressed or anxious maintains us in a state where our access to our most creative and flexible thinking abilities is reduced and where it is harder to think of new solutions.
How then can we create the best possible conditions for tackling an issue we’re struggling with? Our mind often tells us: “First I need to resolve this issue and then I’ll calm down and relax”.
However, even though it feels slightly counter-intuitive, it is in fact more useful to find ways to get our stress levels down first, before we’ve resolved the issue, remembering that it will help us solve it best. As we relax and cultivate calmness even without having found a solution, ideas and resources we weren’t seeing while stressed out, can start flowing again.
Easier said than done, you may be thinking! However there are some tools that can help. EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques or Tapping) is a very effective one for that purpose. It helps calm the nervous system quickly and studies have shown that it helps lower the level of the above-mentioned stress hormone, cortisol.
It can therefore be used by focusing on a problematic situation we’re facing to decrease the stress or anxiety caused by it, and then to allow new perspectives to emerge. Some sessions can feel as though mist is being cleared away from a windshield, allowing us to see clearly again and to move forward. We start seeing new ways of thinking about things, new angles from which to observe the situation, breaking through limited thought processes. New solution occur to us, or different ways to think about the problem at hand, which make it easier to deal with.
If you’re facing situations which feel overwhelming or stressful, which you don’t know how to resolve, and you’d like some support, get in touch !
Book a session with me, and we can use the highly effective resource which is EFT Tapping (or some of the other tools I offer) to work through the situation together.
I offer online sessions, and it is also possible to book a free chat first, to meet and discuss working together.
Get in touch with me at jessica.wallace@mailo.com to book your session or free chat, or for any questions.
