Writers 
Problems are usually inevitable. Most time, we try to avoid them, but they still show up. We usually don’t welcome this situation but they still require our attention. One important thing to note is, problems must first be identified before you can solve them. To resolve any problem, awareness is the first step, you must understand the complexity of the situation, and this then provide insight for quick and perfect solution. For every problem, there are usually core roots before it escalate. But identification of the core root, will help proffer solution to the existing root of the problem, and not just the surface, it take care of the root so it does not grow again in future.
That’s why it is important to always get to the root of any problem before proffering solution. People that solve problem perfectly are those that make research and analysis properly. Let’s say I have bad a spending habit, it’s a problem that I already identified, and has been affecting my financial life, I don’t even have savings, once I see money I just want to spend. I have tried fixing it multiple times, I saved some of my salary, but still I ended up spending it. I think I need discipline, but along the line I gave up, I tried several saving apps to stay committed, but there seems to be something important that I need to spend on, and I can’t stay committed, so I spend my savings again. To solve this, I need to first identify this problem, before I can seek solution. I need to analyze what I spend mostly on, and figure out why I can’t stay focused. The root problem might be that, I have a scarcity mentality, thinking everything will soon finish, and because of that I make sure to purchase before things are sold out, maybe I just spend to impress, or my problem is not really the spending, but the love of seeking external validation maybe I am just an attention seeker . The deeper root might be due to stress, past experience, unmet need, fear, or maybe I don’t know how to control my emotions.
All problem usually have core and deep reason, but it reflect at the escalation stage, and people only treat problems at this stage. Usually this stage involves tensions and require urgency, so they want to quickly pass through the phase, and solve the problem fast and reclaim peace. If you have a bad spending habit and you try to stay focus, it’s just a matter of time before you drift back to your usual way, but if you take the time and go through the problem and understand the dynamics of the problem, you might as well proffer a better, long lasting solution.
Understanding the root and dynamics of any problem is crucial, you need to know the root cause of a problem before you can proffer long lasting solution. Below are the steps you can use to identify and proffer solutions to any problem.
STEP ONE
Take your problems off your head and put them on a paper: Create a column, on a side of the column indicate the problem. Most times, when we find ourselves in a problem, especially the conflicting ones (Both internal and external), we just try to think about it in our head, sometimes we create solutions to the problem in our head and most times no solution at all. When we try to create a solution, we do not write it down then forget the suggested solution since we do not write it done. Our brain is not a tablet, and even if we remember some information we might forget the key fact that might be of help, then we proffer ineffective solution.
What happens when you try to solve a problem on your head? Solving a problem in your head might lead to anxiety, mental stress, headaches, overthinking, emotional imbalance (anger, sadness depression, frustration, fear), you feel tried and drain-up, you lack sound sleep, then your health also suffers it, you might develop high blood pressure. It’s all over your face, everyone keeps asking you what the problem is? Most importantly you lack clarifications, you make bad decision and lose focus.
Solving mathematical problems on your head might be difficult, but with writing tools, it becomes easy. This is also applicable to solving problems, we need to write it down, so we psychological remove the problem off our head and put it on paper. I am not saying that your problem disappear immediately you put it on a paper, if you don’t proffer solution to the problem, just like day come after night, your problem reinstate. Uncertainly, time solve some problems, but usually, if you fail to take actions, you problem remains the same. Best advice, is to put all problems on paper, conflicting issue, financial issue, relationship problem, marital issue, business issue, personal problem (fear, anger, stubbornness, sadness, low esteem etc.) health problem, academic problem, social problem and many more. That is you identifying the problem, you’re acknowledging the problem not idolizing it, why? Most people are really not aware that they have problem, and some are but chose to neglect. But when you identify and put it on paper that shows your willingness and readiness to solve the problem. After putting it on paper, you just have one psychological task to perform; trivialize it, “Ask yourself, so this all the problem? So it not more than this? This all that is costing me sleepless night?” what you are doing here is reducing the tension or fear that comes with the problem initially, this than enable your brain to settle down and proffer reasonable solution out of calmness and clarity not impulsive solution. Now you are willing to face the problem with boldness and readiness. On the paper start mapping out important actors, parties involve, past and present situations, basically the all components that makes up the problem as a whole. It is also important, to identify how you encounter the problem, it might be some compounding effect of past neglects, that accumulate over time, since you are solving problem of the past in present, then it’s relevant you note it down. You might need the experience later and it serve as lesson throughout your lifetime. Important thing to do in this step is to ask yourself, what can I learn from this problem? When I finally solve this problem, what will I avert, to avoid attracting similar problem? Before your solution column which is the step two, I recommend you pray for God’s wisdom and ability to make the right choices. End of step one.
STEP TWO
On the other side of the column indicate the solutions to the problem: You are seeking for answers to the problem. This stage you proffer solution to the problem or identify if the solutions are beyond your ability. You might not know you have the resource to solve a problem sometimes if you don’t analysis and think deeply. That is why you have to start seeking for ways to solve the problem yourself first. In your solution column, break the problem into pieces, for instance, if am in debt of about N100,000 and am supposed to pay back by ending of the month and presently am not expecting any salary, instead of focusing on the N100,000, that I don’t have, I have to first seek for what I can do to make money, definitely not borrowing or stealing, not anything with bad compounding effect. I must think inwardly maybe there is a skill I have, or maybe a knowledge I have that can help me generate money, in other to meet up with my target debt. So if I figure out what I can do to bring value to the market place (my service), then I now break my N100,000 into pieces, and then set a daily target for myself, a realistic one that’s convenient for me to meet up with daily. It might be 5,000 a day and gradually, am making progress. Best approach you can use in this step is PLAN (Problem, Logic, Approach, and Next alternative action). Problem: you need to first understand the complexity of the problem, sometimes there’s a time frame and you want to solve it quick, which means that you need a fast approach. It understanding the dynamics and complexity of the problem. After that, you can now look for the Logic: what you intend to do to solve the problem, next is Approach: Your willingness to take swift action with the suggested solution, showing that you’re not just solving the problem on paper, you’re ready to move. You’re not waiting for anyone to push you, because you understand that movement and progress bring clarity. With this mindset, you’re not just waiting for problems to come and go; you’re actively taking responsibility and acting on them. The last N there stands for Next alternative action , on your solution column, you don’t just plan, you are responsible for the solution at all cost, which means, you create different plans not just a Plan, you create plans till when you are able to proffer solution the problem. While doing this make sure you are calm, make sure you are not distracted, you are maintaining your mental, visual and goal focus, so that you can think deeply and make right decision for a long lasting solution not just impulse solution. Problems appear difficult, and sometimes we think we cannot overcome it, but every human has the capacity to proffer solution to their problem, only if they are willing to solve it with creative thinking mindset. We’ve all faced overwhelming situations that felt impossible to overcome, yet somehow, we overcome.
STEP THREE
If you are able to solve the problem in step two congratulations, but if you are unable to, then you might need to gather other resources, information and knowledge that might help. Since I have tried everything within my capability, applied knowledge and tried everything humanly possible, but no result, then I might need other ideas that can help solve this problem. I have not tried everything, if I haven’t seek for new ideas that can be helpful. Trying to solve a problem by yourself can sometimes limit you. You may have limited resources, lack the right information, or rely on outdated or insufficient knowledge. That is why you need to start seeking for resources you can use to solve the problem. For instance, if I’m having problem in my work place due to advancement in technology, and I’m having difficulties in performing tasks, or everything looks complex and completely different from what I use to know, and it’s affecting my work efficiency. The solution to this problem is definitely not isolation, quitting or complaining, maybe all I need is to seek for training programs that can help me build advance skills, and this will not only solve the immediate problem but also make me more valuable to the market place. Sometime in business, to solve some problem, you need to gather information about your customers, understand their pain points, their needs, and budget, then proffer solutions to the problem, and with that the business scale up. Can you imagine a relationship might be breaking and all you need is to get a book (knowledge), and read, then your relationship bound again. You might be having issue in your relationship and the knowledge you need to solve that problem is written already, but you are not aware just because you do not seek. If you are curious, “How to Win A Friend and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie, can help fix your relationship. Note, resources are sometimes things within your capability, but most times undiscovered, you might be mismanaging your time, and a seminar help you identify that, and propose proper time management to you. Gather Information, seek for facts about the problem, and be willing to apply the knowledge you gained.
STEP FOUR
Who is capable of solving this problem or giving me advice? Who has passed through these challenges, and the experience has granted them ideas, that will greatly help me (Why do you need to firstly solve the problem yourself? So you can develop mental capacity. So when you face similar problem, you have ideas, and you can also help others who have the same problem) . The important thing to note in this stage is, you are not waiting for someone’s order or permission, you are seeking for advice and suggestion, and their suggestions are not commandment that you must follow, they are recommendation and you can choose what’s best for you. Which means that you still have the duty of reviewing their opinions before you act. Make sure that your decision and action, is the end product of your conclusion. You are not a follower, you only need helpful advice, so learn to be a student, who receive ideas and suggestion, then identify what is best to solve the problem, don’t let other people’s advice complicate the problem. Even fools have opinions.
There are some problems that are beyond our understanding, and that is why we need external body to help solve them, at this level we should search for people with experience in the areas of our problem. If I am having financial issues, I should take advice a financial expert, if I am having health challenges, my consultant should be a medical professional, not a friends or family with limited ideas. If I am having relationship issues, and looking for third party to help resolve and mediate, my propose individual must be an expert in relationship matters and most importantly, be in an healthy relationship not just anybody who think they have ideas, so I don’t end up escalating the problem. If am not doing well in life, I should seek mentors, someone doing well not just anybody. Identifying the right party to involve in your matter is crucial, the individual might add tension to the conflicting problem or may de-escalate it. Imagine a couple facing marital issues. One partner reaches out to their religious leader, hoping they can help restore peace. But if that leader is immature and decides to use their situation as a case study publicly, that action alone can increase the tension and worsen the conflict and in long term break the trust between the couple. Just as little as advice can fix ones life, it can also destroy one’s life, and if you check around with precision, we can identify people with wrong advice, aim at distracting or destroying ones life, so it’s advisable you seek out for people with great experiences and well knowledgeable, when seeking help.
Is it really necessary for me to seek help from others? First, you should not be seeking out for help without helping yourself. If you need a million, you should at least have some amount with you. Most times people don’t even help themselves and they are expecting miraculous or divine help. Is seeking for help necessary? Maybe yes or no, depending on the context of your problem. For instance, if I have a bad spending habit, the help I need might be seeking for an accountability partner, that will keep my money for me, or ask me questions about finances. When you already try your best, with little or no result, then you can seek help. People are delight and willing to help those who already help themselves.
There are expert in different field, different stage, any place you find yourself, most times they are willing to help, but most people don’t ask, they don’t search or find. My advice, ask for help, you can’t always do it alone. You don’t want to waste your time solving problems that with ease, another person can solve for you. Sometimes it might cost you money. When you have seek out for help, and you have find suggestions not orders, put them in the solution column, weigh the options and pick the best solutions to the problem.
Conclusion
If you follow this process, there’s a high chance you will find a solution to the problem. Sometimes, if you’ve tried all methods and still find no solution, it may mean your approach is wrong, and it’s a good idea to pause and reflect. And there are times when simply allowing time to pass can help resolve certain issues.
All this steps are not for quick problem resolution, they are steps that require patient. Don’t let emotions control your decisions, use your head not heart. Impulsive decisions result to impulse result with sometimes great regret.
Most importantly, don’t throw away your problem/solution book. Turn it into a problem and solution journal. Anytime you face challenging problem, your book and pen should be a guiding tool, not just your head. And if you encounter another problem entirely, you can still adapt the process.
