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Written by Paul Shearstone
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Sunday, 29 April 2007 |
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Word Count: 902 Understanding Your ‘Real’ Problem
Most people live day-to-day worrying about all their problems when in
reality; their biggest problem is… they think they ‘really have’ all those
problems!
Everyone has heard the expressions, “We bring it all on, ourselves” and “You…
are your own worst enemy!” Healthy-minded individuals - for the most part -
acknowledge the wisdom in statements like these. So why then, do so many of us
have difficulty [a problem] addressing and rectifying what is accepted and
obvious? The answer may not be all that mysterious.
Problem solving, like other human behavioral activities, is an art and a science
that is learned. The fact that some learn quicker or more naturally than others,
is just a part of being human. Nevertheless, there are techniques and strategies
people can learn to recognize and respond to life’s ongoing challenges.
Think for a moment about the biggest problems you face today. Stop what you are
doing and allow yourself a couple of minutes to fully concentrate on the
obstructions in your life that are causing you stress. [Note: Stress is the
natural outcome from unresolved problems.]
That completed, step back from your thoughts to reflect and ask yourself: When
you thought about your problems, was your mind focused on ‘The Problem’ – the
‘Result of the Problem’ [potential or otherwise] – or was it focused on the
‘Solution for the Problem’?
At this point, it may be helpful to do this exercise again.
Not surprisingly, those untrained or mentally unequipped to deal with problem
solving, find that they focus single-mindedly on – are you ready for this? – the
‘Result of the Problem” [potential or otherwise]. Simply put, they allow
incredible life-debilitating stress into their mind and thoughts regarding what
they believe could, should, might or will happen as a result of the problem.
This way of thinking serves only to denigrate the healthy and stress free mental
state they could be experiencing and life has to share.
Emphasis on the words ‘Potential or Otherwise’ is another integral hallmark of
the improper, albeit, natural way people invite stress to take hold of their
life. Studies by psychologists around the world on human behavior confirm
unequivocally, 90-95% of all that we worry about, never comes to fruition. It
simply never materializes! All that stress and worry for situations that never
exist.
Try and recall all the things you did, did not do or could not do for fear of
outcomes from problems that never happened. Now look forward to determine what
is likely to cause stress and hold you back in the near future – which brings us
to the fundamental pitfalls of concentrating only on the ‘Problem’.
No one is sacrosanct [untouchable] from life’s challenges both large and small.
Even the most successful among us have them. Recognizing now that unwanted
stress is frequently caused by nonexistent problems, one can quickly learn to
minimize negative thoughts by qualifying whether a problem is, in fact, a
problem.
A simple way to do this is to write the problem onto a piece of paper. This act,
in itself, serves to minimize most problems simply by seeing it in print. The
second step is to write:
a) The very Best possible outcome – should the problem occur, and,
b) The very Worst possible outcome - should the problem occur.
Having done this, there are three ‘Stress-Diminishing’ Laws, one can consider
and also take comfort.
1) The problem always looks less intimidating when it is in print.
2) 90-95% of all problems never come to fruition. Never materialize! and,
3) Should the problem be real and actually occur, the outcome is ‘rarely’ the
Best outcome or Worst outcome you have identified on paper. It is always
somewhere in the middle – inevitably closer to the more favorable expectation.
That discovery, serves again to minimize most problems, putting them into proper
perspective while at the same time, minimizing the stress level associated with
it.
This proven process also engenders more clear and enlightened thought, allowing
one to better focus on appropriate solutions. Furthermore, it is the
characteristic of the trained problem solver. They are quick to Qualify /
Quantify a given challenge, and then if it is determined to be real, immediately
turn their attention to the solution - bypassing the added stress of fruitless,
negative speculation.
In simpler words, they employ a self-talk mantra that plays out something like
this: “Clearly, the problem ‘Is what it Is’ – So what am I going to do to fix
it?”
The Bottom Line:
The secret to problem solving and stress relief lie in our ability to Recognize
and Respond to REAL challenges - not wasting precious time and energy on
manufactured, angst-ridden influences that may never arise. Those who learn to
master this strategy, are reassured to realize that they have far less stress
and fewer problems than they once speculated and worried so much about!
Paul Shearstone, International Keynote Speaker, Author and Chronic Fatigue
Survivor, is one of North America’s experts on Stress-Reduction and Peak
Performance.
His 3Rs Resilience Formula improves Performance & Profitability,
Saving companies and Healthcare, Money …Guaranteed!
For more information on this seminar or others Paul delivers, we invite you to
contact:
Success 150 Group Inc
7305 Woodbine Ave. Suite 458 Markham On Cda L3R 3V7 B: 416-728-5556 or
866-855-4590
www.success150.com
www.paulshearstone.com
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