As we journey along our path we will undoubtedly encounter problems. Problems are just part of life and they seldom become as insurmountable as we believe they will be. Remember that you have yet met a problem that you have not dealt with, you have not been stopped in your tracks, in-fact, you have grown and have become stronger because of problems.

I want to look at how we can detect problems and then face them head on with courage. This ten-part series will be devoted to just problems and what we can do to solve them.

First let’s talk about what is a problem. According to Webster, a problem is defined as, “A source of perplexity, distress, or vexation.” It appears that we even have a problem defining what a problem is. If we look just at the part of the definition that makes the most sense to me, “A source of… distress…” A problem then is something that causes us to become stressed. We all know that stress can be a huge negative factor in our overall wellbeing both mentally and physically, so I believe that it is imperative that we know best how to deal with and eliminate as many of the problems or sources of stress in our lives as possible.

As we dive into “Problems Along the Journey,” we have defined what a problem is, and we will then jump into: problem identification, identify the factors involved in the problem, research and analyze the problem, identify possible solutions to the problem, pick the best possible solution, apply the chosen solution, test results and apply different solution if needed, and finally to reflect on what the problem and the solution has taught us.

This method of problem solving is a continuous process and with that it can become a powerful learning experience and a place from where we can gain knowledge and wisdom that will help us tackle other problems and become more successful in the long run.

As we investigate each of these steps, keep in mind that you have yet to meet a problem that you have not been able to overcome and by studying these steps each upcoming problem will become less and less of an issue to you. Dealing with problems can be learned, and eventually we no longer deal with problems along our journey, we just push them aside and continue on our way.