How Defining A Problem Can Lead to Its Resolution

Problems or challenges pop up pretty much every day. They can be perceived as small or large depending on how much they affect or disrupt our lives. For many people, the initial reaction to any seemingly insurmountable problem is to panic.

For example, let’s say your car won’t start and you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere? Suddenly you have a slew of potential challenges and problems running through your head. Maybe you think, “I’m going to be late!” Or , “I’m going to starve out here in the middle of nowhere!” Or even, “I’m cold, you’re scared with no one in sight to help!”

These may all be valid issues, but they are not the main problem.  In fact, in some cases thoughts like this can serve to distract you from dealing with the real issue.

So the first thing you need to do is take a deep breath, get a grip and define the actual problem.

Defining the Problem

What this means is to stop thinking about the surrounding issues and figuring out the one thing that is really causing the issue. In the example above, the problem is that your car won’t start. Forget the rest of the things that are running through your head. Focus instead on that one main problem.

Finding the Root

To clearly define your problem, it’s important to make sure that you are dealing with the root cause of the issue. The root of the example above is ‘your car won’t start.’ So this is where you begin to work on solutions.

Maybe you realize that after defining the problem as it won’t start, you realize you’ve run out of gas. HEre Suddenly the solution becomes clearer because you’ve broken it down.

Rewording the Problem

If finding the root hasn’t immediately solved the issue (i.e. you aren’t out of gas so it’s something else), then maybe try rewording the problem. In this case, think of your problem almost as an equation. By flipping it around while keeping the meaning answers often start to appear.

Here are some examples:

• Your car won’t start
• Your car is broken
• You have no mode of transportation
• You have no way of getting home

These last two ‘rephrases’ may start to offer up solutions. One solution to getting home is to call a friend or Uber- or maybe even staying at a hotel for the night. By rephrasing the issue you can view it from different angles which can offer different solutions.

Ultimately, by figuring out the root cause, you can come up with other possible and creative solutions. Yes, you may still have to get your car towed and find out the real cause (if it’s not lack of gas), but at least you won’t be stuck in the middle of nowhere, cold, and scared. Now about being late? Hopefully, you called whomever you were meant to meet to let them know. They will most likely understand. After all, everyone has faced car issues and we all know it’s no fun.

What problems have you faced that once you found the real or root cause you were able to solve? What other tips do you have for looking at a problem in a new way?

Being a person who lives and leads others to be spirit infused means knowing your values, your ideals, and purpose and chasing after it. Solving problems knowing what you stand for will ensure that even once the problem is gone, you won’t feel you have betrayed yourself and your ideals.

To living your best life!