Your Problem Is Not the Problem

So what is a problem? Every day, we all meet problems — small ones, big ones, and everything in between. But what is really a problem? Maybe it’s that moment when something in life becomes difficult, uncomfortable, or makes us anxious.

There are many situations that can be called “problematic.” Losing a job, facing a health issue, or grieving someone’s loss — these are heavy ones. But even simple things, like your car breaking down, can feel like a problem.

The truth is, the problem often already carries its own solution somewhere inside it. The situation — what I’d call the problematic situation — might be something outside ourselves. Sometimes we can’t control it. Other times, we can influence it.

But the real issue is how we think about it. The discomfort starts when our mind begins to process, name, and replay the situation over and over. So maybe the key isn’t only to “solve” the problem — but to change the way we look at it.

What if we simply shifted our point of view? Got a bit of distance? Changed the story we tell ourselves about it? Because maybe the problem is not the problem itself — it’s the way we look at it.

As long as we keep curiosity alive, and are willing to change our perspective, we have a chance to be free — psychologically free — from the weight of problems in life.

And the first step? Acceptance. Not accepting that “it had to happen,” but accepting what is right now. That’s where movement begins. That’s where we find our way forward.

But then again — who am I to tell? The only way to find out is to find out for yourself.

Go into it with honesty, curiosity, and without expecting any specific outcome. Nobody can tell you exactly how to do it.

Maybe someone can show you where to look — through a book, a friend, or a teacher — but the responsibility is yours. And so is the power to change yourself.