Sometimes what seems the easiest option is actually causing us the most strain.

What made me acknowledge this recently was whilst I was working at a repetitive task of making lots of light fittings, which, like most jobs that pay the bills, can be very monotonous. 

The best and quickest way to embark on this type of task is to get a good work station, like a desk and a seat with plenty of room to lay everything out so you can create a sort of production line.

Luckily, someone had already assembled a desk and I grabbed some cable drums and made a seat. So far so good.

The first issue I noticed however was the artificial light was behind me casting a shadow over an already dark room.

Being that I was in an internal part of the building which had no natural light and limited temporary lighting  – (light that is erected during new builds where no lighting exists) – the light was pretty bad to start with.

With limited space, sitting on the other side of the desk so this did not happen, was also not an option.

And that’s no different in life.

Sometimes we can not change the environment we live in.

Instead we have to learn to adapt to it.

So at first I used the light on my phone to help me see the more intricate parts of the light fitting, to make sure nothing went bang when it’s switched on!

Being that this was not an ideal, the next day I bought a headlamp for a hands free solution.

This was better than the artificial light alone or the phone light, but using it all day still strains the eyes  – and the patience – especially when the batteries start fading on the head torch.

As I said – sometimes we have to learn to adapt to the environment because there is no choice.

However, we usually adapt because we don’t know how to – (or do not want to)  – do what it takes to change.

What it takes to change often feels as though it will be harder work than living with the insidious and often mild, but constantly, drip fed feeling of discomfort we are currently experiencing.

In order to break free of this we have to reach a threshold, or to find something more important to us than our current situation is providing.

For me, the reason I put up with the conditions was because the pain related to the idea of upheaval and moving all my stuff somewhere else during day two seem an absolute ball ache!

However on day two I eventually packed up and moved out. Why?

Because the pain associated which moving was eventually outweighed by the pain of sore eyes.

Sore eyes rather than logic or common sense made me look for a solution. 

We need to reach threshold or be inspired to do something that is more important to us than what is currently keeping us stuck.

The hassle of moving is far less important to me than the value of my eyesight.

So as soon as my threshold for eye strain was reached, I looked for a new solution. 

Sometimes when we eventually can’t take anymore and move, we often find the solution was no where near as hard as we had envisaged.

And even when its not the hardest part is actually moving. Once we get started momentum usually keeps us going.

In fact my solution was literally In the next room!

There was a table already there and large windows with natural light pouring in front of me.

I got the help of one of the apprentices to help me shift the gear and my seat into my new accommodation and within 10 minutes, the production line was back in full force and the preparation to bring light to the some of the good people of London continued!

Sometimes life, as they say, gives us nothing but lemons, so we have to find ways to adapt and making the best of what we have – like making lemonade. 

But more often than not, we have plenty of resources and choices.

What stops us looking for a better solution is that we believe it will be harder and more painful  to fix it or to move, than it will to endure our current situation.

Next time something like this happens to you, chances are you won’t do anything unless you reach threshold. I’m a realist. 

However if we are aware enough – or willing to even recognise this pattern and want to help ourselves negotiate the change, it maybe worth asking ourselves –

What’s my current problem?

What’s my current solution? (that’s currently making you feel shitty)

What’s my pay off from staying stuck? (what am I avoiding doing that will be a pain in the arse to do?)

What’s going to be the cost to staying as I am?

Only when we make it too expensive – (the cost), like the idea of me damaging my sight was to me, will we find the willingness to get up and move.