Everyone has problems in life. Sometimes, you are able to quickly solve those difficulties without much trouble. You either come up with a speedy solution or use a strategy that worked in the past for you. Problems become more difficult when there is no obvious solution or strategy that you have tried in the past that will work.
These types of problems cause a great deal of stress and anxiety and require new or different answers. The difficulty with problems is that they can often become huge in our mind. When people know what to do, they don’t get upset. It’s when they don’t know what to do that they get overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. You will discover the tools below will guard against most anxiety and depression.
1. Address: Maybe the problem isn’t that your
to-do list is too long. Maybe you really are taking too much responsibility for
too many things. In that case, it’s not the list that’s the problem. The
problem is your inability to say no. Maybe working on the list is a way for you
to avoid tackling something you are anxious about doing. Maybe the longer the
list, the more important you feel. In all these cases, it would be more helpful
to go after the underlying issue than to worry about the list. The larger issue
has to be addressed.
2. Avoid: There may be some things on that
to-do list that will go away if you wait long enough. Let’s say repairing a
kid’s shirt is on your list. Wait long enough and the kid will outgrow the
shirt. Problem solved. Or maybe you want to paint your house this summer. Wait
long enough and it will be October, when it will be too cold or wet for the
paint to dry. Problem gone!
3. Cope: Some problems just have to be
managed. There’s no simple way to solve, avoid, or minimize them. The problem
isn’t a cover for a larger issue. It’s just a problem. You have to deal with it.
Yes, you can prioritize. You can eliminate some things. Some days you just have
to cope. That means do the best you can. Take a break. Go for a walk. Breathe
deeply and count to ten.
4. Down
to size: Sometimes
the best way to manage a problem is to figure out a way to do it in stages.
That to-do list wouldn’t feel so daunting if you set out to do three things a
day.
5. Pray: Sometimes bringing God into a
stressful situation can make all the difference as it brings clarity for what
needs to be done.
6. Solve: Sometimes it’s as easy as that.
Let’s say you have a “to-do” list that’s way too long. You can worry. You can
resent it. You can wish it were different. Or you could just start taking care
of things one by one until they’re all done. Problem solved.
The key is this: Meet today's problems with today's strength. Don't
start tackling tomorrow's problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow's
strength yet. You simply have enough for today.” (Max Lucado)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“5 Ways to Solve All Your Problems” By Marie
Hartwell-Walker
·
“How
to Solve Daily Life Problems” by Anxiety Canada
·
“Solve the Problems with Your Problem Solving: A 5-Step Process by
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