To Be at Peace, Become a Problem Solver
Who you are depends on how you approach problems
Your focus is in the wrong place.
You’re not a problem solver — you create problems and then feed them.
When you become a problem solver, your mindset is so premium that you can improve your life, and the lives around you — at will.
So keep reading to become a problem solver — to become ultra-useful to yourself (and the world) — just by changing what you focus on.
problem-based-thinking (the destructive mindset)
“What you focus on grows, what you think about expands, and what you dwell upon determines your destiny.”
— Robin S. Sharma
Our default state is problem-based thinking.
It’s focusing on the fact that your Rubix cube is unsolved:
how badly you missed the shot in your basketball game
how many times you stumbled in your speech
how you’ve wasted a chunk of your life
We all do this — we love to get stuck in the negative narrative.
But the grass grows where you water it.
Focusing on your problems will add gasoline to their fire. It’ll make them consume more mental real estate.
Focusing on your problems is destructive, and it tears your spirit down.
Being problem-focused means you’re constantly negative — and frankly, someone who’s useless.
In the face of adversity, you tap out
When you’ve done something wrong, you shift blame
When something is bothering you, you whinge and complain
We all implement problem-based thinking frequently — but you must catch yourself. When you use problem-based thinking, you’re constantly giving up.
You have nothing to add, and you drag everyone else down with you too.
A problem-based thinker will never be able to snap themselves out of a funk. They’ll be stuck in quicksand — even if their intentions are good.
Because their focus is in the wrong place.
To change this — and become an asset to yourself and to the world — all you have to do is to slightly shift your focus.
solution-based-thinking (the constructive mindset)
To become useful and productive, implement solution-based thinking.
Unlike problem-based thoughts, solution-based thoughts are ones you can use.
They are constructive, not destructive.
A solution-based thinker is figuring out how to solve the cube.
They don’t focus on the problem — they focus on what they can do about it:
I missed that shot because I didn’t use enough of my legs — I’ll bend my knees more
I messed up in my speech because I didn’t practice enough — I’ll make sure to rehearse more
I wasted that part of my life because I wasn’t doing what I loved, I’ll change my approach
By becoming solution-based, you become constructive, not destructive. You are creative (your natural state).
And someone who focuses on solutions is a positive, logical person.
When you think this way, you become intrinsically productive — you become useful.
You’re useful to yourself — presenting yourself with a constant flow of solutions.
But you’re also useful to the world — you present everyone with positivity and solutions — not just problems.
The word useful is the key here.
Solutions are the world’s most sought-after commodity.
Companies will pay billions to solve problems, and people will naturally be drawn to people who make things easier.
When you become a problem solver, you become a high-quality person:
In the face of adversity, you rise to the occasion
When you’ve done something wrong, you accept blame and fix it
When something is bothering you, you don’t complain — you find a solution
So shift your focus.
Changing your focus will change who you are
By approaching every problem through a solution lens, you build an unshakeable, unwavering sense of self-confidence — you know every problem you encounter is solvable.
You’ll have the confidence to overcome anything.
You begin to shift your thoughts away from dwelling on the negative and start focusing on the present moment — what you can do to solve the problems.
You won’t panic or be anxious about the negatives — your mind will zip straight to solutions.
Who would you rather be?
a) problem-based (destructive) — the person who is focused on why that won’t work, why that idea is bad and why that problem is so big, or
b) solution-based (constructive) — the person who’s focused on uplifting ideas, creating a grand solution and making problems seem small
When you’re faced with a problem and you start to panic and become anxious or negative, switch your thinking to focus on what you can do to solve the problem.
You’ll become a joy to be around, someone who is positive about any problem they encounter.
You’ll become someone people can rely on to help solve the problem, not wallow in it.
You’ll live a life that presents you with opportunities, not roadblocks.
Simply shifting your mindset from problem-based-thinking to solution-based-thinking will put you on a path to a better, more positive life — a life full of solutions.
Thank you for reading.
I’m just sharing the lessons learned on my path to building my Mental Fortress - an impenetrable and stable mind.
If you found it helpful, that’s great. I figured, why not share it with the world as I crystallise my own ideas.
And click the little like button to give me some feedback. If not, tell me why. And if you know someone who you think will like it - send it their way!
Sincerely,
Eren