We as human beings enjoy comfort. We like to be in comfort zone.

It’s like being in a pool at a very hot summer day. You know that it’s uncomfortable out there. So you stay in the pool. But if you stay there too long then cold night comes and your comfort disappears.

Now you’ve got a problem. Being in a pool hurts you instead of bringing you joy.

Now you want to act. You want to make a change.

It’s like that with everything in life. We want to just keep doing whatever we’re doing in comfort zone until problem disrupts that.

Only when we feel a problem, only when it hurts us, then we have a reason to make a change.

Unfortunately, oftentimes this is already too late. By the time problem really hurts us, it is so big that we feel frustrated and unarmed facing it.

At this point you need to remember that a problem will not disappear like dew in the morning sun. Ignoring a problem means feeding it and letting it grow.

At the same time discomfort is a powerful catalyst for self-reflection and desire to make a change improving situation.

What you need is a tactic which will help you to calm down, overcome your frustration and fear of change, and find a rational way to turn the problem into a life changing solution.

3 ways to turn problems in solutions

There are numerous tactics to flip the problem into opportunity leading to successful way out.

I want to touch “Top 3” which I find working great when conquering major issues or crisis in life.

1. Change your perspective

There is an old saying: In any situation there are at least two ways out.

When something bad happens most people default to victim mentality.

A person with victim’s view thinks that there is nothing he or she can do, drifts to wherever situation drags into, accepts it as if there is no other way out, and doesn’t forget to dwell all the time.

“If only not…” becomes the most used phrase. Circumstances become the excuse for any further problems.

This gives a warm feeling of having no responsibility and makes everything and everyone around guilty in the problem person has.

But there is always other way out.

To find it you need to switch to the opposite perspective.

The opposite to victim mentality is fighter mentality.

A fighter believes in the best, looks for the options to turn negative into positive, and persistent in making changes.

As they say: where the head goes, the body follows.

Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective.

You choose how you look at things. How you approach an obstacle determines how daunting it will be to overcome.

You do not simply exist. You decide what your existence will be, what you will become the next moment.

It’s always your choice.

You can drift and dwell or you can flip a personal issue or crisis to an opportunity and growth.

2. Open up yourself for options

More often than not, our brain acts as if it lives in a box. It uses past experiences and knowledge as boundary to what is possible.

Some people have really small boxes (because they’ve experienced just a few things over and over).

Some people have large boxes (if they tried, experienced, or learned many different things).

When we think about options to overcome the problem, we tend to take into account only options existing inside of the box.

You need to embrace that there are options outside of the box. They are waiting for you.

They may be frightening and full of uncertainty. Don’t be afraid picking such an option.

Once you start taking actions you will see that fog is not that thick. Probably you can’t clearly see the way to your end destination. But you will certainly see your next big milestone.

Ask yourself “How can I overcome [the problem]?” and draft at least 20 options. Then pick one and act.

First write the options your brain tells you. Most of then will be from your box.

Then research in Internet for additional options. Concentrate on options which are out of your box. If your reaction to an option is “no way I could do that” then include it in the list.

Once you have a list go deep into each option. Research them. Look not only at how particular option can come true, but also for whom it worked.

With the information at hand make an educated choice. Then draft a plan and start acting.

3. Use the flank attack

Frontal attack is an obvious and straightforward approach.

You just do the most standard thing society had showed you.

When you struggle for pay your bills several years in a row and you are in a financial hole. First reaction is to follow frontal attack: find same job with better salary, spend less, plan your finances, etc.

This are all good things. They can help you to not drown.

Unfortunately they cannot solve the problem for good. For that you’d need something different.

You need a flank attack.

How about learning a profession with better future growth opportunities?

Yes, it takes time and effort. Most likely financial investment as well. You may even have lower income at your first job compared to the current one.

But if average income with five years of experience is twice as much as you would have in your current profession, wouldn’t such a manoeuvre make sense?

Sometimes the longest way around is the best way home.

With flank attack you take a longer trip around the problem to solve it attacking in uncommon manner.

Flank attack is about changing a view angle on the problem.

I hope you enjoyed this one.

Until next week,

Andrii

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