PROBLEMS SOLVING The problem solving process.

Sometimes we confuse fear or apprehension with intuition, for example, « I have a bad feeling about this! »

But sometimes those feelings are rooted in the real, quantifiable evidence of past experiences. Put aside that part of your self-esteem, or the ridicule you might face from others, to examine what intuition is telling you.

Decision-making is not a situation where you can or must use both logic and intuition when making choices. These two elements are not opposed, they are simply two sides of the same coin. Recognizing the value of both gives you access to a wider range of information to help you make the best decision.

PROBLEMS SOLVING

Dealing with issues that can be daunting can leave you feeling paralyzed and out of control. Regardless of the extent of your problems, there are steps you can take to feel more in control.

And even if you don't always make the right choice, you can learn to feel comfortable with the decisions you make.

Whether you are at a crossroads with a decision or have a problem that is draining you, if you approach the problem proactively, you can avoid such negative feelings of self-doubt and hopelessness.

Focus on what you can do, rather than things that are out of your control, and feel satisfied that you did your best.

Here are a few tips to help you in your problem-solving process:

1. Define the problem: what is happening exactly?

Sometimes a problem simply seems too big to solve.

However, if you make a list and break it down into smaller parts that you can start solving, it will seem more manageable.

2. Set goals: focus on the steps you can take to solve the problems, rather than just thinking about what you would like to happen.

3. Think about possible solutions: be creative and find as many solutions as you can imagine. Some ideas may be far from well known, but don't bother evaluating them yet.

Keep an open mind and list everything that comes to mind, plausible or not.

4. Rule out all the obvious mediocre options: evaluate your list of ideas and eliminate those that are unrealistic or unnecessary.

5. Consider the consequences: review the options you have left and for each, write down a list of their pros and cons.

6. Identify the best solutions: now is the time to make a decision. Review your list of options and pick the ones that are the most convenient and useful. There may be an obvious solution, or some may work in combination.

7. Put your solutions into practice: be confident in yourself and commit to trying one of your solutions.

8. How did it go? So, you tried it.

What happened? If you had more than one solution and the first one didn't work, move on to another.