What Do You Do With A Problem?
Kobi Yamada writes of a brilliant idea in his book, What Do You Do With A Problem?
Yamada shows us how to view a problem as an opportunity. His main character is a child with a problem that keeps growing as he keeps worrying about it and even ignoring it. Until he decides to take a different approach. Yamada writes:
When I got face-to-face with it (the problem), I discovered something. My problem wasn’t what I thought it was. I discovered it had something beautiful inside. My problem held an opportunity! It was an opportunity to learn and grow. To be brave. To do something.
Kobi Yamada
When I am faced with a complex problem, I think about it constantly. The issue will fill my every thought in waking hours and I may even dream about it. This type of rumination can feel like it’s overtaking my mind. I am working on becoming aware of when this is happening to me. When I can catch it and name it, I somehow feel calmer and more detached from my thoughts. “Just notice the brain doing what it does.” writes Jay Michaelson in his piece entitled I Can’t Stop My Thoughts This process helps me have some distance from my thoughts and in turn my problem.
It feels better to gain distance, be an observer, see the opportunity, and reach a solution.
Stepping back helps me see the opportunity within the problem just like the character in Kobi Yamada’s book. Problems can hold opportunities to practice, reflect, and improve. It feels better to gain distance, be an observer, see the opportunity, and reach a solution. By seeing the opportunity rather than rehearsing the same thoughts over and over in my head, I see the reality of my problem and not the story that I created around it with my thoughts. Once again, the more I practice and reflect I know I will grow and improve.
