| Dear Reader,
We all have troubles. In many ways, they define our lives.
But, according to philosopher Abraham Kaplan, we can deal with them more effectively if we recognize them as either problems or predicaments.
The difference? Problems, says Kaplan, can be solved. Predicaments can only be coped with.
If you work in downtown Baltimore, for example, you may be worried about crime. This is a predicament, not a problem. You can install a security system in your car, avoid the worst areas after dark, or arrange a transfer to a different office. But these are coping mechanisms. You are not going to “fix” crime in Baltimore.
A more serious predicament we all face is the occasional death of a loved one.
We can spend time grieving with family and friends, join a support group, or take up new activities to keep our minds from becoming preoccupied. But death itself cannot be bargained with.
Fortunately, most of our troubles are not predicaments, but problems.
You may worry, for instance, that you haven’t saved enough for a comfortable retirement. If so, you have plenty of company.
According to the 2007 Retirement Confidence Survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), 36% of workers have less than $10,000 in retirement savings. Another 13% have less than $25,000.
Clearly, this is a problem, but one with a straightforward solution. You can make more. You can spend less. Or you can earn a higher return on your investments. (Doing all three isn’t bad either.)
Or, you may be one of the millions of Americans who struggles with obesity. If so, it is probably having a detrimental effect on your health, your self-image, and your quality of life.
For some of us, this is both a problem and a predicament. After all, genetics determine your basic body type. As you learned in fifth-grade health, you were born an ecotomorph, a mesomorph, or an endomorph. You cannot change this.
But anyone can eat better, exercise more or both. Not easy, but there is a solution.
Why is it important to label the trials you face either problems or predicaments?
According to John C. Maxwell, author of “The Difference Maker,” “When people treat a predicament as a problem, they become frustrated, angry or depressed. They waste energy. They make bad decisions. And when people treat problems as predicaments, they often settle, give up, or see themselves as victims.”
Understand this and you’ve taken the first step toward dealing with your predicaments and solving your problems.
Nielsen Media Research tells us that Americans love reality shows where contestants are put in high-pressure situations and challenged to “win” using every bit of intelligence, cunning and resourcefulness they can muster.
Why not view your own problems the same way? If you have a boring job, an inattentive spouse, or a looming financial setback, why not use all your smarts, imagination and creativity to turn the tables?
My guess is that if you were in front of a national television audience - and in danger of being voted off the show - you’d come up with something pretty good, something that would surprise the people around you.
In fact, this is exactly what you should be doing, according to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience.” He argues that the quickest way to increase your life satisfaction is to quit seeing your problems as difficulties and start viewing them as an enjoyable challenge.
(He isn’t the first to articulate this notion, incidentally. For centuries, Buddhists have embraced difficult people and situations as opportunities for spiritual development. Without them, what chance do you have to practice compassion, tolerance, or forgiveness?)
Facing your problems this way requires just two things: a bit of imagination and a positive attitude. The payoff, in turn, can be huge.
Whether you want to start your own business, lose 30 pounds, or get out of debt, you can begin by relishing the challenge.
You might surprise yourself, too. Not only by achieving your goals, but by seeing how much satisfaction you get just moving toward them in a disciplined way.
Think of it as your own reality show. (One that, ironically, actually deals with reality.) The obstacles in front of you give you the opportunity to show the world - and yourself - what you’re made of.
Just remember that your predicaments require interpretive thinking and must be endured. Your problems require analytic thinking - and cannot withstand the sustained assault of creative thinking and positive action.
So why not attack yours today with a fresh mindset and a new attitude?
You have nothing to lose but your troubles.
Carpe Diem,
Alex
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Everyone knows how much fun Las Vegas can be…in small doses though right! Well I just came back from a 6 day packed with fun and a lot of work from the Magic Trade Show in Vegas, which by the way is one of the largest Retail Trade Shows in the country. I was representing the company Lady Lanell’s, which is a very successful designer footwear company located in south Florida. Our group consisted of 5 girls, all staying in one beautiful VIP suite at the Wynn. We arrived on Friday to 105 degree weather…so hot! Within the next 3 days we did a trunk show at Bellagio Spa & Salon and at a very cool boutique in the Forum Shops called Corsa. We also managed to see some shows and concerts the next 3 nights which included: Sheryl Crow, Le Reve, and Cher…all front and center. What a way to start off this trip!! The next 3 days after were spent at the trade show, in our amazing booth promoting Lady Lanell’s. Can I tell you we killed it!! We never stopped all day long .. We had sandals everywhere. They covered the entire floor. There was no room to move. We were definitely the most popular booth there. On the last day it was just Lanell and myself…all the other girls had gone home. We managed to whether the storm of woman all looking for that something beautiful for their stores. All in all it was a successful trip with tons of memories that I will never forget. I met so many nice people from all over the country and we made some great contacts. Now that I’ve been home for 3 days I’m still trying to catch up on my sleep. I think I might need a few more days of recovery to feel like a happy human. For anyone that is interested you can see the picture below on what the sandals look like. I even had women stopping me in the airport asking about the sandal I was wearing. I must have handed out several cards in the airport on the way home and once inside the plane handed out more!! They really are a lot of fun and beyond pretty..Thanks to Lanell for taking her company to Magic.
