5 Ways to Conquer Problems with Perspective
Written by Michael Weaver | Follow me on Twitter | Free updates via Email.
Every person has their share of problems, and let’s face it – problems are unavoidable in many cases. The fact that we have problems is obviously ok – because we are human. You can make every right decision and still be riddled with problems. How we perceive, interpret and respond to our problems is really what matters – it’s what makes us grow and become better human beings.
It’s almost comical how short-sighted and uncreative we can get when we are staring down what might seem like an impossible, unimaginable situation or problem.
Here are a few things you can do, thought processes you can adopt, and methods you can use to turn your so-called “problems” into anything but…
1. Understand that everything in life is temporary
Much of our daily life is full of temporary relationships, feelings, jobs, etc. Let’s take a look at someone losing their job, it’s common for people to become upset and even devastated when they lose their job. Yes, it’s frustrating and it’s not fun to lose your primary source of income and have to find a new job. Sure, you’ve got reason to be upset and feel sorry for yourself a tad. You could sit around and think about how great your inter-office friendships were, and all the reasons that fuel your agony. Your mental state continues to regress if you follow this path of thought.
Now…Distance yourself from your negative thoughts.
Have perspective: You weren’t going to have that job forever, were you? No, you weren’t. Why not give yourself a boost of confidence and believe that you are more qualified for a higher paying job? Who says you can’t start your own business? Growth and life as a whole are built upon a foundation of experiences – realize that a new career or job environment might just be the greatest thing that ever happened to you.
2. Your problem is not new to this world
It has been understood, handled, and conquered at some point in the past. It’s also common for people to think that their problem is unique to them and them only. You know, their situation is new to this world and there are no answers out there. If you reach out to someone like this, they may simply tell you that you just wouldn’t understand.
Well…Fortunately, life’s problems have been dealt with millions of times by people of all types, backgrounds, ages, etc.
Have perspective: Instead of thinking that you and you only can comprehend the difficulty of your situation, understand a couple of things. Your problem has been recognized and conquered before, by people that have the same problem, but at a higher level of severity. Know that there are millions of people in the world – and through technology and the willingness of others to share – it’s so easy to find information and other people that know EXACTLY how to conquer your problem.
3. Slow your imagination down
How much of your problem solely resides in your imagination? The truth is, probably more than 90% of it. Our mind is an amazing weapon, but we have a tendency to let it get the best of us. We isolate ourselves and confine our problems to our own little worlds.
Wow…It’s crazy how far we can let our minds wander from reality.
Have perspective: Rather than use our mental energy and thought to let our imaginations grow our problems. Use that energy to share your feelings and thoughts with someone you trust that can broaden your perspective. Getting outside of your imagination allows your problems to become more acceptable and solvable.
4. Realize what you have with gratitude
In moments where we let our perspective fly right out the window, we also tend to forget all else that is positive in our lives. I can tell you, in moments where I’ve let my mind and a situation get the best of me – it’s been very helpful to take a step back and distance myself from the problem at hand. After creating some mental space, you’d be amazed at how your perspective changes once you let yourself realize all the skills, or health, or family, or friends, or opportunity that you do have – regardless of your specific problem that you’ve let dominate your mind.
So…You’ve convinced yourself you aren’t happy, now you need to remind yourself of your fortune based on what you do have.
Have perspective: When a situation arises in life that you didn’t ask for, don’t panic and let it overtake you. Do what is necessary to distance your mind – talk with friends, take a trip, go bowling, read, whatever it is that can serve as an outlet – and then spend time listing out all that you can be thankful for. If you are fortunate enough to have your health, start there. Be thankful for the ability to walk, to breathe, etc. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you start to feel better about where you are.
5. The larger reality
While you struggle to accept this problem or are in a state of denial because something terrible has happened in your life – there always remains a larger reality. It’s really easy to not allow yourself to have a vision beyond your problem. In the grand scheme of life, chances are that your problem is only a hiccup, and remember it’s definitely only temporary. The larger reality is that you are one of billions of people on this earth.
I’ll quickly touch on a person in my life that I’ve been lucky enough to befriend and get to know. For three years in college, my roommate was a kid from Rwanda. During the Rwandan civil war in the ’90s, he was separated from his parents, brothers, sisters – and the majority of his extended family was brutally killed. He arrived to the states after a family friend found him at a refugee camp. He began his life in the states in an orphan home with nobody, he knew not a lick of English, and managed to graduate from college in four years in computer science. Talk about overcoming obstacles. Now, this is a man that has some perspective on life. And I know he doesn’t sit around and get upset because he’s is still separated from his entire family.
Yes…Getting to know someone less fortunate and from a different background can be very eye opening.
Have perspective: It helps when you can learn from the stories and challenges that people have overcome. Most people don’t give themselves enough credit relative to their potential to overcome and grow. There are millions of amazing stories out there of people that have made it through impossible situations. Is your problem impossible? In the grand scheme of life and of this world – is it really that big of a deal? Getting acquainted with the larger reality is a great tool for gaining perspective.
Image by pagedooley.
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I love you comments, especially about the larger reality. What may seem like a problem may be miniscule to someone else’s more serious situation.
Lindsey Petersen
http://5kidswdisabilities.wordpress.com
Lindsey,
You are right! Thank you for your comments! I will be sure to check out your site! Have a great weekend…
Mike
Hi Mike,
Most of us have fear or losing things or people (such as job, the woman we love, the money we have). This is a very good point: to understand that everything is temporary.
Of course we should take care of what we appreciate or love, but in a level that we can let it go if it is necessary. Not easy, but possible.
.-= Isaac – Life is simpler´s last blog ..Passive income streams =-.
Isaac,
You got it man! Perspective can completely change the way you respond when life presents us with situations we didn’t have in mind or thought would never happen to us.
Thanks for the comment! I must tell you that I signed up for LifeisSimpler!
Mike
Awesome post, Mike! I recently went through something that got me down in the dumps, but I caught myself before I sunk in too deep. Distancing yourself from a bad situation and observing your feelings instead of reacting carelessly really does work wonders. I used to have a major problem with remembering #1 and #2, but over the past year I’ve improved immensely. I still have my icky moments but now I’m getting out of them much faster.
I’ll be subscribing… looking forward to more posts!
Thank you Valerie!! It sounds like you’ve done a great job keeping your focus on the things that matter to you! I am going to stop over at InsightFull and see what you are all about!
Thank You for subscribing!
Mike
Mike, I have a friend who was running here in Salt Lake City a couple of years ago. He stopped at a red light and bent over, trying to get his breath back. A car passed by and someone yelled something to the effect of “Pick up the pace, fatty!”
What they didn’t know was that my friend was running the marathon one week later. On the day they saw him, he had just finished his 22nd mile of the day.
Things change a lot depending on where you’re standing. Good post, buddy.
.-= Josh Hanagarne´s last blog ..How To Be As Confident As This Pig =-.
Josh,
That’s a great example of what can happen when people rush to judge another without taking the time to understand the dynamics of their life.
Thanks for the comment!
Mike
[...] Perspective is where it’s at – and stories, quotes and other tools that help you and I gain perspective on life are not shared enough. Feel free to share with your family and friends like I have! Enjoy… A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2″ in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous – yes. The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour their entire contents into the jar – effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. “Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, and your children – Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.” “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. “Take care of the rocks first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.” One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers.” [...]
[...] Next? Tomorrow, I’m going to talk about the importance of perspective. Something I’ve talked about before, but it’s essential and extremely useful to always [...]
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