Most of the clients I work with are trying to solve problems. I happen to be a person with a natural knack for fixing things, and it's sometimes disheartening to watch people struggle so much with troubleshooting, brainstorming solutions and solving problems. Over the years I've learned a few tricks that will help you find solutions for situations that are bugging you.
One of the most basic observations I've made about problem solving is that you can't examine something from the same point of view that created the issue and expect to fix it. You have to change your mind in order to see all the possibilities and options that exist. You cannot get a fresh perspective on how to resolve or cope with a problem unless you can step back from your typical mindset and look at the issue with new eyes.
Think about global warming... our biggest barrier to working together to solve the problem is that our entire social structure is oriented toward instant gratification and excessive consumption. Until we can look at the destruction of the planet from a different perspective and formulate creative solutions that are outside of our current way of living, we won't make any progress.
Another barrier to effective problem solving is reliance on historical information. Now you might say, 'but isn't historical data helpful in knowing what will work and what won't work?' Sometimes. The trouble is that a historical perspective will never let you look beyond what has already been tried. And, truthfully, the success or failure of an innovative idea that hasn't been attempted before cannot be measured by looking backward. Even ideas that have been tried at some point may work out completely differently in a new situation and a new time frame. So don't be afraid to try something new or resurrect a brainstorm from the past.
Letting go of preconceived notions is another huge leap toward solving problems. Having a closed mind that is deeply attached to established beliefs is a surefire way to go through life facing down one tough problem after another with no ability to find a solution. Try to allow your mind to open up to all possibilities, and don't harbor expectations for certain outcomes or make blanket judgments.
Have you ever been in a relationship that went through a 'rough patch'? It's really hard to continue a healthy, happy relationship after bad experiences because of our innate need to hold onto our notions of how our partner might hurt or disappoint us. Thanks to our negative attitude and horrible expectations, the relationship develops a natural tendency to become negative and horrible. But, by letting go of the outcomes we've been trained to expect, we can open the door for a positive experience and build a new, loving bond with the other person.
Don't be overly attached to the things you believe are 'right' or 'good'. The best problem solvers are willing to look at any and every option to uncover the one that works best. Opening your mind doesn't mean that you have to end up accepting everything - it simply means that you are open to new ideas and are not overly attached to your old ones. Your ego makes it hard to open up like this, but it's truly the only way to get innovative and fix the things in your life that seem hopelessly broken.
We all have problems. No one is immune. But if you can consciously work to re-program your approach to the problems in your life, you can learn to see them with new eyes and push through to a solution quickly.
