I have some ideas on problem solving, which I’d like to share with you, and hear your thoughts on.
I noticed someone earlier, mentioning that she needed more hours in the day, to get her work done. Of course, the challenge with trying to solve time management, by looking for more time, is that it’s impossible. You, me and everyone else is blessed with the same 24 hours each day.
Another way to solve our challenges?
Telling ourselves we need more hours in the day, is a common example of how we often seek answers, by focusing on things that are outside our control. A more productive approach, is to look at our challenges and focus on the things we can control.
For example:
- Instead of wishing a certain task was easier, we can focus on developing better skills.
- Instead of wishing our dream home was less expensive, we can focus on becoming financially stronger.
- Instead of wishing we had more friends, we can focus on becoming friendlier and more approachable.
- Instead of wishing people would understand us better, we can focus on becoming better communicators.
Taking responsibility
Of course, by looking at our challenges and putting their resolution in our own hands, we risk being held responsible for our failure if it all goes wrong. There’s a strange sense of self preservation that comes from allowing outside factors to govern our success. If it all goes wrong or we fail to get the results we want, we can always blame our luck or the economy or the weather or the government.
I’d like to know your thoughts on this, but I think we often find ourselves faced with the choice of doing what’s easiest or doing what’s right (and often more difficult). It’s a lot harder to accept and take control of the things that matter most, but I believe there’s no other route, for those of us committed to being the best we can be.