Our eleven-year-old dog, Sadie is a precious mini Goldendoodle. She’s brilliant most of the times as she takes her role as queen of the pack. Yet, the other day, I discovered her whining loudly by the gate I set up so the puppies didn’t interfere with an appointment. 

Here’s the catch: The younger puppies managed to shift the gate and run to find me. Sadie, on the other hand, only saw the gate and believed an obstacle was in her way. She was literally sitting a foot from the opening and could have easily come to me as well.

This pictures reflects their favorite spot as I work.

While I would love to give her the benefit of any doubt and believe she was respecting the boundary, the truth is that she has a pattern of this. She dislikes obstacles so much that she doesn’t see the openings.

We do the same thing in our lives.

We perceive obstacles without exploring the way through or noticing the possibility. Indeed, we miss the opportunity or new perspective because we’re focused on what is seemingly in the way.

In my own life, I’m learning to ask, “Is this true? Is there another way to look at this?” Just yesterday, I heard something that initially felt upsetting. In the car with my husband and daughter, instead of venting, I shared how I took in what was said and then expressed an openness to hearing another perspective. Sure enough, they heard the same message but their take-away didn’t include an obstacle. I had some re-thinking to do.

When I’m coaching individuals or groups, there’s a commitment to digging deeper, getting beyond the initial thought that interferes with next steps. We ask the hard questions to overcome any perceived obstacles first. “What stands in the way, slows you down, or stops you from following through with what you really want?” Exploring the answers and honestly evaluating their validity opens doors to new perspectives and possibilities.

“If you believe it will work out, you will see opportunities. If you believe it won’t, you will see obstacles.” (Wayne Dyer)

What are you seeing? Are there perceived obstacles getting in the way and clouding your perception of what’s possible? Are you missing the opening or opportunity because all you can see is the gate? 

This may be your moment to step through the opening.

Ready to do some work around this? I’d love to connect with you here.

Much of my work involves the Enneagram. For those familiar with the types, the pup mentioned in this post is a classic perfectionist. Sadie has been since the day she came to live with us. As a Type 1, she wants everything to be right, including keeping her young siblings in line. Want to learn more about the Enneagram and what it means in your life, let’s talk!