Every person has problems: even the wealthiest individual on the globe has challenges in life. There are times when problems feel overwhelming and like you might not be able to get past them. But by taking responsibility for your problems and setting a path to correct them in a constructive way, you can deal with any problems that come your way.
1. Stay as calm as possible. It is common to overreact when you face a problem, but this can cause you to make bad decisions.[1] Before you begin tackling your problems, get in control of your emotions, which may help you stay calm and more effectively deal with whatever you’re facing.
- Take a few deep breaths and repeat to yourself “let” when you inhale and “go” when you exhale. This can help control your heart rate and allow you to relax.[2]
- Repeat to yourself “I can get through this. It’s challenging, but I can find a solution.”
2. Accept responsibility for the problem. Consciously acknowledge the problem and then accept responsibility for your part in it.[3] This can allow you to begin actively and constructively dealing with any problem.[4]
- Write down or list the problems and their causes. This can help you more readily visualize, accept, and even deal with a problem.
- For example, if you missed a mortgage payment, accept that you bear some, if not all, responsibility for this.[5] Likewise, if you have bad grades, acknowledge the role that you played in getting those bad grades.
3. Evaluate situations before you respond. If you find yourself dealing with a problem and you are not sure what or who caused it, take a moment to think before you react. It’s easy to blame someone else for problems, especially when you feel challenged or overwhelmed, but blaming others is counterproductive and may even cause further issues.[6] Take a moment to determine if the problem was caused by external factors (other people or things beyond your control), internal factors (something you did or failed to do), or a mixture of the two.
- External factors. If someone hits your car while it is parked in a parking lot, then this would be an example of a problem caused by external factors. You did not cause the accident and there was nothing you could have done to prevent it.
- Internal factors. If you arrive late to work because you hit the snooze button on your alarm too many times, then this would be an example of an internal factor. In this situation, it would be important to acknowledge your role in arriving late to work so that you can avoid making the same mistake in the future.
- Mixture. If your group gets a poor grade on a group presentation, then chances are that there are things that all of you could have done better, not just one person. Try to identify your role in the situation and take responsibility for it.
4. Find a quick solution. Many problems require an immediate or fast solution. By staying calm and giving yourself as much time as you have, you can find a quick solution to your problem.
- Remember to take a deep breath before you start reacting.
- Evaluate or assess the situation and any information about it as quickly as you can.[7] For example, if your toilet overflows, you can check the tank or the bowl to see what the issue is. Likewise, if someone is yelling at you and it appears they might get aggressive, you can quickly figure out that it’s best to remove yourself from the situation.
- Give yourself as much time as you think you have to break down the problem and react with a solution. For example, if you realize your insurance has expired and you didn’t get a renewal notice, call your insurance company and ask about the options to get coverage as soon as possible.[8]
- Think about different solutions to the problem and then decide which is the most appropriate.[9] For example, if your toilet overflowed, you can either call a plumber immediately or try and stop the water from running. However, you might also want to try and stop the water by closing the valve on the tank and then calling your plumber or plunging the toilet.
- Consider other perspectives if the problem involves another person or other people.
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