December 15, 2009

The Priceless Gifts of Your Problems   Charles F. Kettering, famous research scientist, was a wise man, a kind of natural-born philosopher.  He was an inventive genius of high order, especially in the automotive field.  "I could do nothing without problems," he declared emphatically, "they toughen my mind.  In fact," he said, "I tell my assistants not to bring me their successes, for they weaken me; but rather to bring me their problems, for they strengthen me."   Excerpted from Six Attitudes for Winners by Norman Vincent Peale   Bring on the problems!  You've got to be kidding.  Who wants problems?   It is those who view problems as an opportunity - an opportunity for growth, change and the new.   Think about that for a minute.  Think of a problem that required you to dig your heels in to solve.  Did your resolve, determination and focus strengthen you?   Did you learn from the experience?  Who you become in the process and learning what you can change for a better future are significant outcomes in problem solving.   I'm not denying that problems can be overwhelming at times and get the best of you.  Yet when you approach them from the perspective of "How can I solve this for the better?" and start looking for solutions rather than staying stuck in a "whoa is me mindset" your chances of emerging as a victor are greatly increased.   Don't fight your problems.  Instead, acknowledge and confront them head on.  Break them down into pieces, get creative, and begin searching for the opportunities that lie within.   "I have had profound respect for problems ever since [he breaks them down], knowing that each one that comes my way may come bearing a priceless gift of know-how, insight, and understanding," said Dr. Peale.   What priceless gifts can your problems bring to you?     "We must look for the opportunity in every difficulty, instead of being paralyzed at the thought of the difficulty in every opportunity."             Walter E. Cole   "Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds.  The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storms."             Charles Caleb Colton             "Every problem contains the seeds of its own solution." StanleyArnold   "All the problems become smaller if you don't dodge them, but confront them.  Touch a thistle timidly, and it pricks you; grasp it boldly, its spines crumbles."             William S. Halsey     I hate problems as much as the next person; well, give me a math problem and I'm good (or at least I used to be), but give me a real problem - not good.  Problems and priceless gifts?  Those two thoughts have never fit together as far as I'm concerned. Is it time to think differently and begin to look for the gifts in my problems?  Greater know-how, insight, and understanding sound pretty good to me.   It hasn't been much of a problem writing The Balance Beam over the years.  Today's issue marks #200!  That's right.  The BB debuted on June 14, 2005.  That's well over 4 years of insight, inspiration, and wisdom for my loyal readers.  I am grateful for each and every one of you.  YOU keep me writing.  Thank you!   Have a fantastic week and look for the priceless gifts in your problems.   Stephanie   P.S.  All the back issues of the Balance Beam are on the website in the archives section.     We grow by "word-of-email" so please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think might benefit from and enjoy it. Thanks so much! Contact Us: stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com