Problems: An Opportunity for Growth

How’s the second quarter treating you so far? For me, it’s been a time of change. And by change, I mean dealing with various problems popping up. Some changes have been good, such as finding new contracts and work, which means I need to look into hiring help. Other changes and problems haven't been so good in the form of hurting my back and being hit hard with allergies, which knocked me out for a few days. The last two weeks, specifically, have been quite frustrating. 

This brings me to the point for today. The thing is everybody has problems. Mine were physical, but other people may be dealing with issues in their personal relationships, work relationships, or even their relationship with themselves. Problems are part of life. However, life is not determined by who has more problems but by how we respond to those problems. You can actually grow through problems and challenges. But do you know why most of us don’t? It’s because the problem with having problems is we don’t think we should have them at all. 

What does that even mean? Typically, when I hear about a problem someone has, I’ll ask them, “What would you like to have happen?” The response would then be, “I just want it to go away.” They want the problem to disappear without having to do anything or change. It’s actually very relatable. Every time I notice my belly in the mirror, I wish I could have a six-pack without having to work out and diet. 

Is it wrong to want the problem to just go away? Well, before I answer that, I’m reminded of a saying by Jim Rohn. It was something along the lines of, don’t wish that your problems went away, wish that you were better. 

So, there isn’t anything inherently wrong with wanting a problem to go away, I just think that’s a missed opportunity to grow and improve. In my own life, I’ve found that where I have issues, I tend to have the same core weakness in my character. In my belly fat example, working out is the answer, and I could gain more strength and overall health through working out. Those are all things I would miss out on if my belly fat just simply disappeared. The reason why I don’t address it? I think I can take care of it later.

During my school years, I wouldn’t start working on projects and reports until right before it was due. I figured I could take care of it later. As a result of that attitude, I missed out on opportunities to hang out with friends because I was too busy catching up on homework. 

From the outside, my physical health, student success, and social life seem completely unrelated. However, with some time to reflect on my overall quality of life, I could see that “taking care of it later” was the common variable influencing my happiness in these areas. 

Once I identified it, I was able to start making changes and improve the quality of my life. Compared to my younger days, I have better control of my health (it’s a work in progress, folks…). I start work earlier, so there’s less stress around deadlines, and I’m intentional about making plans with friends. By making these small adjustments, multiple areas of my life look different. 

So I’m curious to hear from you. Do you have any recurring issues in life? If you do, what’s the underlying cause? If you can identify it, how can you improve the situation? If you can’t figure it out for yourself, shoot me an email, and let’s see if we can figure something out. You got this. 

Coach Kev helps people find calm, clarity, and confidence in their life while working on his weaknesses. Contact him at kevinkoocoaching@gmail.com, or follow on IG and YouTube @kevinkoocoaching and come meditate with him at https://bit.ly/kkcmeditation