How many times have you said that to yourself?

Someone has come up with a brilliant idea that saves time, makes more money or is so inventive and you think you could have done that too if only you had the …….??

What would it have been that you needed that you didn’t have?

It’s a difficult question to answer in my opinion.

The phrase ‘behind the curve’ springs to mind here.

What is the origin of the phrase behind the curve?

The idiom “behind the curve” is believed to have originated from the world of mathematics, where a curve represents a line that is constantly changing direction. Being behind the curve means falling behind the pace of change and not keeping up with the latest developments.

Or, you could also say:

“to change to a new idea or way of doing something later than most others, or to react to something after it has already happened:”

For example:

If you’re not using social media to promote your business, you’re behind the curve.

It’s frustrating that in most cases we’re behind the curve because we’re reacting to crime, not preventing it.

The pitfalls may be obvious.

• Feeling dim, stupid or out of your depth with new development a sense of anger or resentment that others seem to cotton on quicker than you do
• Behaving belligerently towards proposed changes to mask how uncomfortable or worried you feel about them.
• Undermining our sense of ourself, our capabilities and confidence
• Sense of not belonging, fitting in or being an outsider
• Thinking negatively about yourself can bring your mood down and also prevent you from accessing your own creativity

None of this is sounding good, is it?

So, let’s look at this from a different angle.

What about any benefits?

Idea’s people are great, aren’t they?

Meaning of ideas person in English – a person who is good at thinking of new and interesting ideas: Every team needs an ideas person, and also a person who is capable of acting on ideas.

(Definition of ideas person from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)20 Mar 2024.

The second part of that explanation is the interesting bit for me. It’s true that ‘ideas people’ are a crucial part of any team but they don’t often have the skills to then carry out the idea into a practical format.

Acceptance plays a large part here.

We are all different, unique, with our own set of talents and skills. Accepting that we are not the same and there is no shame to that is a step into challenging the negative thoughts that occupy your head in these circumstances.

You can build on what’s already been conceived, adding value and personal perspective.

Another possible benefit is that you can continue to develop your own skills in coming up with ideas should you want to and also work on your own personal and professional development in upskilling which could prove useful in the future.

Being part of a team has many benefits in its own right; learning, sharing, experimenting and evaluating are all great attributes of a well-functioning team. So, although you may not have created the idea and be ahead of the curve, you can still provide valuable input to an ongoing and evolving project, giving you a sense of achievement and satisfaction.

By noticing and valuing the differences and uniqueness of ourselves and those around us we can produce a harmony that that works co-operatively and collaboratively without the stress and pressure of coming up with the initial ideas.

We can better appreciate the constant shifts and changes in ourselves, those around us and the wider context of environment and the world and learn to roll with these, seeing positives in the change. Change is indeed our one constant in life.

Acceptance that we are not everyone’s cup of tea can also be highlighted in the differences and the way to reduce stress, anxiety and worry is to be and understand your authentic self, and the authenticity in others. Owning mistakes, appreciating other people’s points of view and releasing patterns of behaviour that belong in the past all assist with living and working in a more authentic way. This can be tricky at first, feel overwhelming even and can lead to anger and frustration. To find out more about how to deal with anger, please visit – https://www.susangraingertherapy.co.uk/anger-management/

In doing so we mitigate some of the pitfalls detailed previously in as much as we are more comfortable with being out of our depth on something and feel strong and secure enough to ask for help or clarification when we do not understand.

We can better tune into our own unique skills and abilities and showcase them. This means we can also be comfortable to notice our weaknesses and make strides to shore those up. We feel more secure, accepted and have a sense of belonging.

This all, in turn boosts our sense of self, our self-worth and confidence are boosted as a result. This makes it a great tool for self-care. For more ideas on self-care and to download a free resource, please visit – https://www.susangraingertherapy.co.uk/introductory-sessions-and-workshops/

So, don’t beat yourself up for not being a natural ‘ideas’ person and being the start of the curve. Joining in the curve at any point can yield positive aspects and provide gains. To promote this idea further, start writing a list of your skills, attributes and positive aspects that have proved useful to you so far and then think about how you can use and increase these going forward.

Keeping your balance and courage to keep going can stress out the body and mind. Reflexology can help to redress the imbalance and restore internal order. For more information, https://www.susangraingertherapy.co.uk/reflexology/