What is the meaning of the problem is not the problem the problem is your attitude about the problem

Problems are a part of life. But our attitude towards the problem can often make problems seem much bigger and exaggerate their impact in our lives.

“The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. Do you understand?” – Captain Jack Sparrow, The Pirates of the Caribbean movie series

Most of the time, our attitude towards a problem turns out to be the real problem that leads to difficulties and discomfort in life. All of us face challenges and difficulties in life. However, when we have a negative attitude towards it, we can let our problems seem bigger than they are. This can make us feel overwhelmed and think that there is no way to solve the problem. This can lead to excessive stress, anxiety and even depression in the long run. 

However, when we pause and step back for a while, restructure our attitude and look at the situation with a new perspective, we can often find new ways to deal with the issue at hand and feel empowered. This is why, most of the time, the problem is not the real problem. The problem, then, lies more in our vibe, attitude and mindset about how to approach or face the problem. And this is what we need to focus on and fix. By reframing our mindset and taking a new approach we can realize the problem was never a problem at all.

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It starts with being aware 

We often tend to be unaware about things that hold us back in life and prevent us from pursuing and accomplishing our dreams and goals. As we dream big, we tend to feel intimidated. But we fail to realize that the bigger our dream is, the more difficult it will be for us to make it come true. The more we will have to struggle and grind. But we can fix this by bringing our consciousness and awareness into our thoughts, emotions, mentality, attitude and behavior.

The more conscious we become of ourselves, the more awareness we have about the irrelevance of our negative mentality, insecurities, fears and excuses. We have the power to overcome any problem we face or crumble down at the sight of the most inconsequential resistance. We have the choice to change how we see the problem. To alter our mindset and attitude towards the problem. The strength lies within us.

However, as we fail to realize this, we seek validation from others. We look at others to tell us that we can do this. That we can overcome the problem. We look for permission from others around us before we can embark on a journey of personal growth and development. But we fail to realize that we don’t need to seek external validation. All we need is our own permission to not seek permission from others anymore. When we have that confidence, when we stop seeking validation from others, we can finally start changing our attitude and mindset towards the problems life throws at us.

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How to change your attitude towards problems

If you feel overburdened by your negative mindset and wish to develop a more positive attitude towards problems and life in general, then here are a few ways for you to get started.

1. Act purposefully

Before taking action, make sure to think about how it may affect your life and help you accomplish your goals. If it doesn’t really serve your goals in the long run, it’s not worth acting upon. “Aimless activity wastes time and energy,” writes author Geoffrey James.

2. Push yourself beyond your comfort zone

Comfort zone is a place where growth dies. When you are stuck in the same place every day, then it can get very frustrating and depressing. So decide to stretch yourself beyond your own limits regularly. 

3. Limit your expectations

Don’t always act expecting the results in a certain way. Life is unpredictable and anything can happen at any time. When you take action based on certain expectations related to the outcome, you set yourself up for disappointment. James adds “Take your best shot but don’t obsess about the target.”

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