It could be as simple as looking over our list of chores, tasks, or projects and being overwhelmed or as bad as our thoughts and emotions, which control our state of being. The solution for most is to turn the other way and ignore the issue or act busy on something, and maybe that anchor tied around our ankle might mystically disappear.
Ignoring is ignorance. We can’t run from whatever ails us. We have to face whatever it is head-on, but before we do so, here are a few strategies that can give us the upper hand.
KNOWING YOUR ENEMY: TWO TYPES OF PROBLEMS
Problems can have a shelf life, meaning they will expire, whereas other times, problems are something that we are surrounded by with no timeline or end in sight. Similar to project launches or deadlines, it is necessary to understand that date and continue to work as efficiently as possible until the problem lapses. However, when surrounded and taking hits from all sides, we are challenged to fight through the fog and find which area requires our focus to make the most significant difference.
THREE STEPS TO SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS
“The best way to escape from your problem is to solve it.” Looking inside the problem for any solution would be like swimming in the vast ocean at night. We can’t see any solution that might present itself, which is why Jocko Willink says, “The answer to the problem is not within the problem.”
STEP #1 - DETACH
Stop doing what you are doing and detach. Take a step back and look up and out. In doing this, we increase our visibility to all our options. Identical to Edward de Bono’s strategies of the Six Thinking Hats, we can change hats from being reactive or emotional to a critical thought process, allowing us to make better choices.
STEP #2 - PLAN OF ACTION
Once we can see all the options available, we can create a simple yet powerful plan of action to follow consistently every day until we extinguish the fire of the issue. In demolition, they set charges to the areas of the foundation in a building to take down its structure. Our focus should be the same as we look for the most significant points that make a difference in our situation. We must look for the dominos that act as triggers to what is happening or what would clear a path for us to keep moving forward.
STEP #3 - GET INTO CONSISTENT ACTION
We need to choose the first step and do it right now. Then, repeat this step in the process every day. Some problems and issues can be easy to solve by simply moving one little thing around in our schedule and creating the change we need. Others require a higher level of thought and far more time due to their complexity. The only way to beat complex issues is with simple consistency. If our solution to the problem is overly complicated with multiple steps, we won’t be able to create any traction for forward momentum, exhausting our stamina towards the fight. If we keep it simple and continue plugging away, we will find the action step we are taking becomes our new normal. That is the magical moment when we can officially take the next step in our plan and adopt it. Most cars have transmissions with gears. First gear is only one step, and we can only go so far and so fast in first gear. Stacking each of our action steps on top of one another gives us more gears to shift through and allows our method of transportation or action plan to drive any distance and solve any problem.
CREATE UNLIMITED PROBLEM-SOLVING STAMINA
In complex problem-solving situations, our step back may not be enough to find the solution, or our first choice puts us on a path that has changed, and we might need to adapt. Through this critical thinking and problem-solving process, we can embrace Tony Robbins’ concept of turning our frustration into a fascination, which will award us the curiosity, focus, and stamina required for the long haul.
CONCLUSION
We can conquer all our problems with the three-step process listed above. No matter how complicated the situation, all we need to do is detach and observe our options, which will assist in creating a solid plan that we must put into consistent action as soon as possible. These steps help us remove the chains that hold us back. Once we free ourselves, it is far easier to move towards higher ground and continue climbing to new and better places in life.
What can you do right now to create a change toward a healthier life?
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