I think it’s fair to say that most of us dream of, strive for, and work toward eliminating problems in our lives. A problem is defined as “a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome.” Who does not want to get rid of unwelcome or harmful matters or situations? And not only do we work to eliminate every problem in our life, we let them gnaw away at us most minutes of most days.
Here’s a question worth asking… do you think you can be problem-free? The answer… no! We will never be problem-free, it’s simply not how life works. A huge first step is realizing that we will always have problems. Admitting this wipes out a myth that weighs us down. If we have the idea that we can get ahead of all of our problems, yet can never actually do so, we continuously live in frustration, anger, unhappiness, and resentment. The moment we accept problems as part of life, we can move on to the next step, which is to reframe the problems that we do have.
To suggest that we should love problems would be foolish. That’s a stretch. But to accept them as part of life, a component of the human experience, makes them easier to accept and less frustrating to deal with. Problems force us to grow, inspire us to develop new solutions, and often push us to be better. I can think of many times when the steps I took to overcome a problem were critical in getting me where I am today. Had I realized the importance and significance of those problems at the time they were occurring, I might have had a different level of enthusiasm and much better attitude while working to overcome them. Author Roy T. Bennett’s quote sums it up nicely… “Turn your obstacles into opportunities and your problems into possibilities.”
It is also critical to differentiate your problems. There are problems that we work to solve, and there are problems that we work to manage. The one’s needing solved should get the necessary attention and effort, and eliminating those is a worthy goal. But make sure you identify which ones require ongoing attention and effort, and don’t really get solved. Adam Mastroianni wrote a blog back in 2024 titled “So you wanna de-bog yourself,” where he got me thinking more about differentiating between what he calls diploma problems and toothbrushing problems. You put in the work on diploma problems, then they are gone forever. He uses learning to ride a bike as a classic diploma problem.
Toothbrushing problems are different, “you have to work at them forever until you die.” Maintaining a healthy body weight, showing up for work, and continuing to put effort into your relationships will need never-ending and ongoing work. Being aware of this will help you remain engaged and help prevent frustration.
A big problem we have with problems is that they are always there. The sooner we accept them as part of daily living, the better off we’ll be. Seeing them as opportunities and challenges instead of just pains in our butts can help keep us engaged and open the possibility that some good might come from the problems we have. Identifying the toothbrushing problems and accepting those for what they are.. ongoing… will help us remain focused, engaged, and less annoyed.
Many problems blindside us and come as a surprise, but thinking we can achieve a life without problems is foolish. Go all in to fix the diploma problems, create strategies to manage the toothbrushing problems, and work to prevent having problems, but embrace the fact that problems are a part of life, and that many of your most incredible achievements and victories started as problems.
