I must confess. When I was younger, I was an avid reader of anything that had a mystery theme. Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys often kept me company and I had visions of becoming a legendary detective who could solve any case without exception. The characters in these stories captivated my attention by taking everyday objects and situations and using them to unlock the story behind the crime. They solved problems by thinking outside of the box–an approach that kept me spellbound!

Even though I have traded in my magnifying glass and flashlight, there is still the heart of a detective deep within me and it often plays a role in my everyday challenges. I am rarely able to carry out my goals for the week without hitting some sort of obstacle–it is amazing how quickly 24 hours fly by when I have a list of things to accomplish. At this point, I face two choices. I can throw my hands up in dismay and dramatically proclaim that everything is a disaster and there is no chance of recovery, or I can adjust my perspective.

Our perspective often limits our ability to see a solution to an issue. Oftentimes, we get so caught up in the routine of how we have always done a task that we miss the chance to be creative when a new challenge arises. This week, we have talked about ways to solve some common dilemmas. As new challenges arise, like good detectives, we can shift our perspective when dealing with our children, interacting with our spouse, or carving out moments for ourselves. Here’s to a happy sleuthing weekend!

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