Dealing with the Problems We Cannot Solve
By definition, a problem is a situation or issue that is waiting for a solution. Therefore, since we know that all problems have a solution, all we have to do is find it. This may not be easy, however, we know that it is there, and that can be essential to not lose hope when searching for it.
And if there is no solution?
If we encounter a problem we cannot solve, then, by definition, it is not a problem. It is likely that we are talking about a reality. That is to say, life. Frequently, life surprises us with unexpected situations, those which do not require us to look for a solution, since it can really only be remedied by acceptance of life as it is. We have to learn to live with these situations.
How many answers exist?
When facing a problem in which we must look for a solution, we should be creative, considering that there may be millions of possible solutions, as many as we could possibly imagine and combine.
Looking for the right answer requires being open, receptive, and very creative in the face of possibilities we would have never before imagined. Although we may not find the perfect solution, there are other options out there that will resolve the problem sufficiently.
There are problems that we get stuck on, and they become our shadow…a shadow that we cannot break up or push aside, a shadow that is like rain on a windy day.
How can we find the best possible solution?
When a problem worries us to the point that we begin to obsess over it, we are impeding ourselves from being able to look beyond it to find the best solution or solutions. It is as if we have a veil covering our eyes that prevents us from seeing farther, and that even inhibits our thinking.
Therefore, to find the best solution, it is necessary to put distance between ourselves and the problem, look at the problem from a different point of view, and in a different way than what we are used to.
In order to do that, we need to strengthen our creative thinking and be open and receptive to new perspectives of the situation. Thus, new possibilities and new horizons – and new solutions – become possible.
To give it space, it is necessary to open our minds, revitalize the problem knowing that it has a solution, and stay calm and emotionally balanced when confronting the problem.
Different ways of distancing yourself
- Use visualization. Imagine that the problem that is on your mind in front of you, rather than on top of you. This way, you won’t feel so much weight or pressure, but rather just the responsibility to solve the problem, as well as the security that there is a solution. This way, we can imagine it in a different way, taking a different shape, and we can look for different, creative solutions.
- Another way to mentally process the problem is by writing using stream-of-consciousness, and letting your ideas flow without thinking. Imagining solutions and writing them down can help us find new new signs along the road. Writing these things down gives us the opportunity to be able to go back and read them. We can think about our options in a different way, relating them to each other, and evaluating and reflecting upon them or the possible outcome their combination, and what the best solution to the problem really is.
- To maximize the potential of our creativity, it is practical to keep yourself informed, and to read or listen to the advice and experience of others who have gone through a similar situation. From this advice and experience, we can take a new direction in our search.
- Travel, break your routine, give yourself physical distance. Sometimes, physical distance facilitates emotional distance from the problem. Getting out and away from your routine is helpful when you are decided that you need to put psychological distance between you and the problem. If you do not have this attitude, despite however many miles you put between yourself and your problem, you will always carry it with you.
However, if our attitude is to see our problems from a different point of view, and to break away for a little while, it helps us, allowing us to give ourselves real space. It also gives us space from the stressful situations that prevent us from finding the solution.
