Do You Have a Problem with Problems?
Enjoy your problems
Shunryu Suzuki
“It’s not fair. I shouldn’t have to put up with this!”
Why not? What makes you special? We all face problems.
“OK. Fair enough. But enjoy problems? Aren’t you taking this positive thinking thing a little too far?”
— — —
We need to reframe how we think about problems.
Our main problem with our problems is how we think about our problems.
A problem is often mostly psychological. The idea that “I shouldn’t have to deal with this” creates more stress when we face a problem.
A problem is not a total disaster. People are not conspiring against us. The world is not coming to an end.
Problems are the default state of the universe.
We can think about problems as opportunities.
A problem is a learning opportunity. It allows us to learn how to fix a new cluster of problems.
A problem is an opportunity for creativity. Creativity is enhanced by constraint, not by freedom.
A problem is a chance for us to show our true character. We are not people who fold at the first sign of difficulty.
A problem is an opportunity to make a positive impression. If the problem is that we made a mistake, we can gain more by correcting our mistake than we would have gained by being “perfect.”
A problem is an opportunity to create a lasting bond with your fellow problem solvers. When individuals overcome obstacles together, they develop a bond between them.
We might think a world without problems would be paradise. What it would be is boring.
We create artificial problems.
A project is a problem designed to produce something new or better.
A brainteaser is an intellectual problem.
Soccer is an example of a recreational problem. Can you get a ball into a net without using your hands?
You can’t learn algebra without solving problems.
You can’t learn wisdom without facing problems.
You can’t learn a skill without artificially created problems, commonly called training.
Problems shouldn’t surprise us.
Things wear out and break.
Left to themselves, things go from a state of order to disorder.
We have the privilege of imposing order on our environment.
You will have several opportunities today that others may mistakenly think are problems.
Take full advantage of those opportunities.
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