By Vicki Voisin

As a busy paralegal with family and social obligations, you will constantly be faced with challenges. Some will be tougher than others.

Meeting and overcoming the challenge is a lot less stressful if you have a clear formula or process to follow. You need to follow a formula that will save you from becoming bogged down and paralyzed by indecision…a process that will guarantee you will get the result you want.

Use this 6 step formula to move forward when you are faced with a challenging decision.

1. Change your attitude. Attitude is everything! A can-do attitude rather than a defeatist attitude will instantly eliminate much of the resistance to finding a solution. Think of the analogy of a viewing a glass as half full or half empty, depending on your attitude. Optimism will go further toward solving problems than pessimism. Optimism will open you up to more possibilities and help you make better decisions.

2. Take practical steps to uplift your spirits. If your problem is weighing heavily, change your surroundings — take a walk, read a good book, play with your kids or your pet, listen to your favorite music. Do anything that will lift your spirits and raise your energy so you can be more effective.

While you’re in your different surroundings, remember a time when you faced another problem, made a good decision and got the outcome you wanted. Connecting with that feeling will empower you to meet challenges and make good decisions every time.

3. Be clear about the outcome. Before you move toward a solution, you must be totally clear about the result you want. If you don’t have a clear, precise vision of the outcome, you will waste a lot of time and energy in the process. Ask yourself this question: what is the result I want to create? Once you are clear about the outcome, it’s time to focus on the solution.

4. Focus on the solution, not the problem. There is always more than one solution but you won’t see any of them if you are only focused on your problem. Begin by brainstorming the possibilities and writing them down. If you get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper, you will literally ‘take a load off your mind’ and find the focus you need to clearly consider your options.

5. Consider your options. Once you are fully focused on the solution, it’s time to consider your options so you can decide which course of action to take. In order for your options to become clear, list the criteria that must be met to guarantee you will be happy with the result…that you will get the outcome you want. Identify your criteria and write them down.

When you’ve made your list check it over to be sure you don’t have criteria that are unreasonable or can’t be met. Delete the unimportant ones. If you don’t have enough criteria, there may be too many options to choose from. In this case, add more criteria to eliminate options that may result in mediocre results. Your ultimate goal is to get the results you want.

6. Make a decision and determine your action steps. When you complete steps 1-5 of this formula, your best choice…the decision you should make…will be clear. Once you’ve made your decision, outline the steps that will get you to your optimal result. Then determine when those steps must be taken to reach the result you want. This may be a one week process, one month or even one year. Whatever the time frame, begin those steps immediately.

Your challenge: Use this simple 6 step formula to meet your challenges head on and keep moving forward. Making your decision and taking action is the only way to do that. Remember that your car parked in the driveway is capable of taking you anywhere you want to go. It will not get you anywhere, though, until you put it in gear and follow your map to your destination.

©2009 Vicki Voisin, Inc.”