4 Different Approaches to Problem Solving

Eileen Caddy  “Expect your every need to be met. Expect the answer to every problem, expect abundance on every level.”  Eileen Caddy

The problem you may have, no matter how big or small, may be stymied by how you are approaching it. This article approaches problems from what may be considered a contrarian way of thinking: solving problems by letting them go, accepting that there is a right time for everything, giving in to a greater power, and encouraging a mindset of abundance. Let’s talk about this.
​
1. Letting go of problems
​
Many people have great difficulty in letting go. They want to hang on to everything and think that is a way to control their life. Recognizing that that there are things outside of our control is the first step towards reducing much of the stress we heap upon ourselves. Yes, trying to control things outside of our control packs on stress.
 
Sometimes when solving problems you make mistakes but don’t want to let go of them. The mistakes become your problem. And the problem you tried to resolve could be outside of your control or within your control.  If they are truly outside of your control then let the mistake go and learn from it. If you can control the fix then get on with resolving it.
 
You need not beat yourself up when you make a mistake. You are not perfect. Understand why you made the mistake and fix it, but don’t hang on to the negative feelings you have about it.
 
Recognize that mistakes can have positive outcomes. A positive outcome occurs when we learn from our mistakes. A negative outcome happens when we approach them with an attitude of finding fault. We have a choice. We can be positive or negative. Choose positivity it will gain you more in the long run. 

 2. Accept that there is a right time for everything  

Every problem has two sides. We can let it overwhelm us or we can see it as an opportunity.
When we let it overwhelm us we tend to worry, become anxious and overly stressed. Often we emotionally freeze which stops us from acting on it. When we see a problem as an opportunity we recognize that everything happens for a purpose and for our benefit and solutions come at the right time. In that sense there is a right time for everything.
 
So, timing isn’t the issue. We receive what we want and need at the exact time we are supposed to have it. It is really about solving problems when the time is right. Have you ever wondered why when you have a problem you read something that addressed it, or you took a break and a solution popped into your mind when you least expected it, or someone walked into your life that had a solution. When these things happen problems are solved at the right time.
 
Sometimes we need to put a problem into our “too hard basket” - that compartment within our brain where we don’t want to think about it. What we are doing is waiting for the “right time” to resolve it. We just need to recognize that “there is a time for everything under the sun” (Ecclesiastics 3:1) and our problems will be resolved when the time is right.  
 
 3. Engaging a higher power to help you through the difficulty

Some of the problems we face are bigger than us and are out of our control.  They overwhelm us to such an extent that we call upon a higher power to help us. This is where faith takes over. A faith that says we can’t handle this difficulty at the moment so we surrender it to a supernatural being, knowing that we are now safe to go on with our lives.

Often fear prompts our faith. We are faced with a fear that is so challenging that we become frozen in time. It could be a threat of war or something actual like an economic downturn, job loss, or substance abuse, or any number of things outside of our control. It is not that we can’t do anything in these circumstances, for instance we could advocate for peace, save finances for economic disaster, find other work, or attend treatment for substance abuse.  People of faith however, put what we do within the context that no matter what we do we will be alright and that there is a way out of our crises.

Through faith fear is lessened, responsibility is strengthened, choices are solidified, and a way out of difficulties are found.  The focus is on blessings received and freely given and life is to be lived and not feared.
 
4. Having a mindset of abundance

Another way of approaching problems is facing them in a way that you steer them in the direction you want them to go. Your power comes from within yourself and not outside of yourself. This is not a contraction with number 3 above but a recognition that any power we have is sparked by a power beyond us and that we are not invincible. However, we still need to make things work.
​
You are the one who takes action.  And the action you take is with a mindset that you can affect the course of your life by how you think about yourself, the world around you and the choices you make.

This problem solving method doesn’t consider a win-lose outcome, but an outcome where everyone has the possibility of winning. This is essentially abundance thinking where solutions are not taken or acquired but “tuned into” as Wayne Dyer once said. You are empowering each other to find solutions bigger than each of you – a breakthrough solution – and you are pleased with each other’s success.
​
             “Instead, I have an abundance mentality: When people are genuinely happy at                     the successes of others, the pie gets larger.” Steven Covey
 
In conclusion I have tried to present four approaches to problem solving that may not be considered in problem solving textbooks but are still fundamental approaches. These are: view mistakes as opportunities, problems and their solutions always come in a timely manner, faith and a higher power are important in solving problems,  and an abundant mindset allows us to find successful breakthrough solutions.

Thank you for reading, and as always....

Take care, keep well and continue becoming the best version of yourself.

Richard.