If you're describing your current situation as being "off track" you may find this insight very useful to help you quickly get back on track or if more appropriate to get on to a new track.

Background

Words have power - with the ability of words to derail or support your goal. And yes I do mean 'words' have power - ie the words you are using to describe the current situation are not simply factually descriptions of the situation they have more power than you often give them credit for.

My name is Alison Smith, and for 25 years I've used the metaphors in your language when you're confused, overwhelmed or stuck and don't know what to do to help you get back on track. It's what my book Can't see the wood for the trees - landscaping your life to get back on track is all about - where the metaphors in the words such as Can't see the wood for the trees, Stuck in a rut, going round in circles, up a creek without a paddle, want to turn a corner and so on, are explored for insight. With suggestions for actions to take to remedy the situation when you're using, for example, the words 'I can't see the wood for the trees' that include

• Stop planting more trees (something I'm sure we're all guilty of when we're overwhelmed!)
• Stop getting distracted by the trees and wood and just focus on your destination (most often the other side of the wood!)
• Follow a whole path not half a path - because the dithering and backwards/forwardsness is draining energy and time.
• Keep your head up - so you don't miss the crossroads
• There's always more routes our than you think - my poem Paths and Destinations talks to this.

In a previous post I shared the huge difference someone found between 'looking for answers' and 'searching for solutions' ie they couldn't see them when using the first phrase and yet they were abundant when using the second phrase. Following that theme today I want to look at the use of the term 'off track'.

The Metaphor of Being 'Off Track'

"Off track" is often used as a statement of stuckness ie I'm off a track that I want to be on - and unless we explore it further that's as far as it gets.

Here's the video summarising the blog - or continue to read below.

Let's consider the two words separately

Track

As you think about the situation you felt 'off track' about I would like you to notice what happens if you change the word 'track' to something else such as

• Path
• Plan
• Course
• Journey
• Climb
• Pass
• Adventure
• Race
• and so on

If you like golf what happens, and what solutions come to mind, if you use the word

• Fairway (and perhaps you're in a bunker) - ie you really do need to use a different strategy to get out of the bunker than got you in it!

If you like driving then what happens, and what antidote or solutions come to mind, if you use the word

• Road (perhaps you're just stopped at a layby) - perhaps you're taking a break
• Motorway (or at the services - or on the hard shoulder) - ditto or something needs mending before you continue

If you swim outdoors then what about thinking of the track as a

• Stream. or
• River - where flow feels like a great antidote (ie getting back in flow may be easier for you than back on track!)

The aim is to nudge your mind away from its "I'm stuck" thinking to instead being able to see a wider perspective, and simply changing one word can do that, for example, instead of being "off track" with no idea about what to do - you might be 'in a bunker off the fairway' which in turn reminds you that you need to use a different club to get out of the bunker which translates to trying something different and not keeping doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome.

Off

By using 'off' in relation to the track, you're conveying so much and it may or may not be accurate - so once again take that situation you felt off track about and change the word off - suggestions might include

• mapping (the track(s))
• discovering (an alternate track)
• exploring (the existing or easier tracks)
• designing (an innovative track)
• carving out (a different)
• taking a detour
• taking a shortcut
• and so on

There's no right or wrong so keep playing with the words - laughter is a great sign that something has shifted and you may not know what has made the difference and yet the original situation feels different and actions have come to mind to help you make progress.

It may however not be the use of 'off track' that's stopping the solutions emerging - it may be that you're using 'back on track' as your goal. As you'll see in the first part of another video - when I used another tool to help me get insight - and drew the track - it was a different track that I needed to be on!

Back On (Track)

Instead of back on the same track perhaps you need to be

• On a new track
• On an exciting track - which could have you exploring what motivates you
• Finding the right track
• Mapping all the tracks
• and so on

Just keep playing until something shifts because words really do have power, and I describe finding the right words as being like opening a door in your mind so the solutions - that have been hidden from view up to now.

Do let me know how you get on.

Other Explorations of Being 'Off Track' And How to Get Back on Track

I've explored ways to get back on track from a couple of other angles recently.

• Two unconventional ways to get back on track - including drawing the track you're off
• There will be an easier track so stop making it so hard