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Monday, October 29, 2012
How To Solve A Problem: 5 Quick Tips
"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are
your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the
your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the
president. You realize that you control your own destiny."
Albert Ellis
Do you have a problem in your life right now?
If so, maybe these five quick tips can help you to solve it a little bit easier.
1. First, ask yourself: is there really a problem here?
Often we create problems in our own heads that aren't really out there in reality.
So relax a bit. And think about if this is really a big problem.
So relax a bit. And think about if this is really a big problem.
Is it something that will matter in 5 years? Or even in 5 weeks?
Life becomes a lot less stressful when you stop making mountain out of molehills
(or just out of thin air).
2. If the problem is real, accept that fact to make good use of your
energy.
energy.
When you accept that the problem already exists and stop resisting that thought
and fact then you also stop putting more energy into the problem and "feeding it".
and fact then you also stop putting more energy into the problem and "feeding it".
Now it just exists (well, more or less, you might still feel a bit down about it). You
can use the energy you previously fed the problem with - the energy that
probably made the problem look bigger and scarier than it was - to find creativesolutions to the challenge.
can use the energy you previously fed the problem with - the energy that
probably made the problem look bigger and scarier than it was - to find creativesolutions to the challenge.
3. Ask for help.
You can ask people for advice on what to do and what they did in similar
situations. But you can also ask for more practical help. You don't have to solve
every problem on your own and sometimes it feels better to have someone by
every problem on your own and sometimes it feels better to have someone by
your side, even if it is just for emotional support.
If you just ask you may find that people will often be willing to help you out.
4. Use 80 percent of your time to find solutions.
And only 20 percent to complain, worry and whine.
It might not always be easy but focusing your energy, time and thoughts in this
way is much more beneficial for you and others than doing the opposite.
way is much more beneficial for you and others than doing the opposite.
5. Break the problem down into smaller pieces.
Solving a problem can sometimes seem overwhelming and impossible. To
decrease anxiety and think more clearly break the problem down.
decrease anxiety and think more clearly break the problem down.
Identify the different parts it consists of.
Then just take one piece of the puzzle at a time. Focus on just that piece. Figure
out one practical step and action you can take to get started with the piece.
Take that action.
out one practical step and action you can take to get started with the piece.
Take that action.
Then take it step by step in a single-tasking manner until you are done with that
piece.
piece.
And then move on to the next one. Before you know it you'll have made a big dent
in the problem or even solved it.
in the problem or even solved it.
All the best,
