Whenever we come face to face with a challenge there are several ways people typically respond to them. Some people want to solve the whole problem at once while others feel pessimistic about even trying. Some people put their heads in the sand and avoid the challenge altogether. Most of the time these reactions are not useful. When faced with a problem or challenge I like to ask myself three basic questions. These three questions help me get a handle on what I can do right now to manage the issue.
Why does this problem need to be solved?
Most of us don’t really stop to think about why a particular issue might be worth confronting or solving. How would solving this problem improve things? Also consider the cost of avoiding of the problem or slapping a bandage over it instead of really taking care of it. On the flip side, the problem might be imaginary, a worry that has no basis in reality or a subconscious need to have a dilemma.
Get clear about the problem and if/why it needs to be solved before moving forward. If you feel it is something you’d like to confront and you understand it, then move to the next question.
How do you personally relate to the problem?
How do you feel when you think about confronting this problem? Angry, confused, afraid, resistant etc. How long have you struggled with it? Have you ever had success with a similar issue? Some people are eager to get rid of the problem and want a quick fix, others can overanalyze it, getting lost in the details without really making progress, while others still just want the problem to go away without really working through it.
There are legitimate reasons we avoid a problem and discovering how you feel about your problem and how you relate to it can help you see the both the obstacles and the solutions that might already be available to you.
What can you do right now to begin addressing the problem?
Imagine you have found yourself on journey and all around you are miles of strange land, filled with strange animals and plants. You have no idea where the rivers are located or whether there will be friendly people you meet along the way or hostile people. All you can do is look around you and decide what you need to know or become aware of to begin. It is just like this when working with a personal challenge or problem. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the unknown and to overlook what is right in front of us because what is right in front of us doesn’t represent the whole answer but only a small part of a larger solution. It’s like a puzzle, the answer to the problem can only be assembled one small piece at a time. So what is the step right in front of you that needs to be taken? It could be as simple as familiarizing yourself with your surroundings. Getting more acquainted with the problem, or taking stock of how you have handled similar situations in the past. Whatever it is, the step right in front of you will always be clear and it will always be something you can do immediately. Once you have taken care of that step, the next step will reveal itself to you. This is true no matter how far we journey and how much we learn. We always have to start or pick up right where we are.
Start where you are. It’s simple. It’s powerful. It will change your life.
