An Antidote to Helplessness

“What is my contribution to the problem I am concerned with?” This ownership question comes from the book The Answer to How Is Yes by Peter Block. When I feel frustrated or stuck, I find this type of question powerful. Asking myself how I’ve contributed to an outcome can be uncomfortable, and I don’t always do it; however, if I can slow down enough to ask, I almost always see opportunities for agency. When I engage with this question, it suffocates my victim mindset. 

This week, I invite you to think of a current challenge and ask yourself with kindness and compassion: 

What is my contribution to the problem I am concerned with? And what else? And what else? Keep going until you can think of no more contributions. 

If you can’t think of anything, ask “What have I done that may have contributed? What have I not done that may have contributed? What have I said or thought that may have contributed?”

God bless,
Dan