Impossible Alternatives

“If you are trying to make the best of a bad situation, you are choosing a suboptimal view of the situation.”

~Michael Neill

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As a coach, people come to me for help with challenges and problems.

They show up with what they believe is a complete and accurate view of their situation, looking for help choosing between two or more undesirable options.

After they finish presenting all the evidence to support “Option One” and “Option Two” as the only possible choices, I ask a simple question:

“What’s behind door number three?”

This question is a reference to the famous 1960’s game show Let’s Make a Deal.

Their response is often a puzzled look followed by assurances they have considered every possible alternative.

“I’m sure you have, but I’m interested in the Impossible alternatives,” I reply.

You see, “Possible” refers to everything we can imagine based on how we currently view the situation now.

“Impossible” represents anything we can’t possibly imagine now but would quickly and easily see if we had a different view of the situation.

“No problem can be solved by the same thinking that created it.”

This quote (often misattributed to Einstein) suggests “Impossible alternatives,” are only available when questioning the beliefs and assumptions that govern the situation itself.

We rework the ‘facts’ of our perception repeatedly and wonder why we feel ‘stuck’ when all we need to do is see the situation from a different perspective.

Of course, this is difficult to do alone.

So whether you seek out a coach or a friend, resist the temptation to ask: “Which of these options should I choose?”

Instead, ask: “How could I see at the situation differently?”