Internal Schisms

Whoa! That sounds like a medical disorder. Something like that would require a patient and spouse to sit down and have the bad news gently broken to them by a kind, understanding doctor. Towards the end of the discussion, the doctor would explain how many days, weeks, or months the patient can expect to survive.

Luckily, internal schisms aren’t as serious…or are they? Let’s take a deeper dive into this seldom-used word. Schism is defined as ‘a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.’

Taking that from an internal standpoint adds a whole different element which is what I want to touch on here. Are you struggling with your internal divisions over decisions that you need to make? Do you find yourself stuck in the mud? Do you feel like you’re constantly thinking about which way to turn at this fork in the road?

This is an unproductive situation and one that we all face. Reminds me of the song by the Clash from 1981 entitled “Should I Stay or Should I Go”. The lyrics in the chorus continue with, “If I stay there will be trouble, if I go it will be double. So you’ve gotta let me know, should I stay or should I go?” Yes, I know. This is a popular song by a punk rock group from the 80’s. Here’s what you can do to help you solve these issues more decisively and quickly. Your goal is to start using this method to be as automatic as what you learned in elementary school if you ever find yourself on fire. Stop, Drop, and Roll!

  1. Get to a quiet place and eliminate any distractions or interruptions
  2. Brain dump and write down the schism in sufficient detail
  3. On a clean sheet of paper, make a capital ‘T’ and start writing down on one side of the ‘T’ the positives and on the other side, the negatives of the schism. You may have to use 2 separate ‘T’s’ if there are positives and negatives about 2 different decisions you are considering
  4. Organizing your thoughts, and your decision, in most cases, becomes clearer. Now that you’ve done your due diligence, decide and move on! You’ve probably heard the phrase that you only have to be right 51% of the time. If you’ve come to a fork in the road and you’ve decided to pitch a tent and stay for a few months, you’re killing your productivity.
  5. Seek wise counsel if you need additional backup. Someone who you trust and respect to get another set of eyes on the situation. It’s even better if this person is completely detached from the outcome. <Insert Coach’s Name Here> may be able to help with that, if you catch my drift!

Don’t forget the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln who said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” You are that house, my friend. Clear up your internal schisms quickly so you can stand and move forward!

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