Chapter 8

We have lots of problems in life. So many in fact it is all too easy to start thinking of everything as a problem, when in fact, they aren’t. It has been suggested by a number of people smarter than me, that we start replacing the word “problem” with the word opportunity. When I suggested this to a group of people I regularly write to each week, I was shocked at how much push back I received.

It seems more than apparent that they believe the problem focus is the norm and that we should never expect more from ourselves. Just accept the fact that every “problem” is really a problem. This is, well, problematic, because it keeps us focused on the issue rather than the possible solutions. And worse yet, it robs us of all inspiration and motivation to see any opportunities that may be lurking right there in front of us. It blinds us to other possibilities, and cripples our innovation and creativity to find opportunities.

I am no PollyAnna, but wife may be. Yet I can be all too problem focused and I need to pivot and see all the rich possibilities and opportunities that these challenges might be bringing our way. It is a very different posture toward life, to get rid of the problem focus, the problem mentality. It requires me to try things and think things that are not easy nor natural for me. I am a product of my culture and I inherited this as a normal course of events, and so did you. We have to energize our thinking and perspectives and opportunities and see what really is right before us, to see differently.