Your Solutions To Problems Should Come From Purpose

Photo by Cadalpe

When you're faced with a problem, how do you deal with it?

Do you deal with it using your pride and ego? Being arrogant and impatient in your approach, thus using solutions that may solve the problem quickly but with a lot of negative implications?

Or do you deal with it passively? Letting others come up with the solution to your problems and have them solve it as well?

Or do you deal with it with purpose? Seeing the problem as an obstacle that you just need to overcome the right way to help you achieve your goals and dreams?

Similar to my previous post about Bro. Bo's teachings on our dreams coming from either pride or purpose, Bro. Bo mentions that our solutions also comes from pride, purpose and another called passivity.

Dealing with your problem using pride and ego often leads to catastrophic results. People who uses pride to solve their problems will always go for the quickest and surest way to solve a problem, without regard to the possible negative impact. Cutting in line because you're already late, parking in the slot reserved for disabled or senior citizens, killing someone who has done you and your friends wrongly, and so on.

These solutions usually make things worse.

Using passivity to deal with your problem often leads to inaction. People who are passive usually just wait for other people, the government or even God himself to solve his/her problem, which usually results in them not being able to solve the problem at all. Waiting for a company to offer you a job without even applying, waiting for the government to provide you with free food and shelter, waiting for God to stop the rain to prevent flooding, and so on.

Nothing usually happens here.

Solutions that comes from purpose is what Bro. Bo likes to call God-Solution. Purpose driven solutions doesn't focus on the problem at hand, it focuses on your purpose, dreams or goals. It see problems as challenges that will make you better and take you closer to your goals once you overcome them. The challenges you face in starting a business, overcoming financial struggles through proper financial education, forgiving someone who has done you wrong, and so on.

Solutions here are not necessarily quick and easy, but they are considered the right one because of their focus on the real purpose and not on the problem.

Focusing on the problem at hand won't really do you any good. Because it will only force you to do things that will solve or minimize the problem, even if it's not necessarily what you should be doing to accomplish your goals or dreams.

Like one of the problems I faced in failed attempt at starting a car wash. I was too focused on the problem of finding a good location and wanting things to be in order before I begin, that I lost sight of the real reason for starting the business in the first place. To provide convenient service and to make profits. My energy was spent on trying to solve the problem, hence, I didn't have enough to actually start the business and serve its purpose.

So if you're faced with a problem, don't use your pride or passivity in dealing with it. Instead focus on your purpose. The reason why you're doing what you're doing. So that you won't forget what's important and not focus too much of your time and energy in your problems