1. Don’t underestimate.
We must avoid the temptation to underestimate the seriousness of problems that on the surface may appear slight. Problems are like a pregnancy. They will grow until their presence is obvious. No one is just a little pregnant. And no problem is unimportant enough to ignore.
Never underestimate a problem or your power to cope with it. Realize that the problem you are facing has been faced by millions of human beings. You have untapped potential for dealing with a problem if you will take the problem and your own undeveloped, unchanneled powers seriously. Your reaction to the problem, as much as the problem itself, will determine the outcome.
2. Don’t exaggerate.
Instead of underestimating the problem, your instinctive (and often, first) reaction is to exaggerate it.
Are you closing your business? That isn’t the end of the world. You can start over again. Are you unemployed? It doesn’t mean you can never get another job.
Put your problem in its proper perspective. The seriousness of it will pass.
Ask yourself these questions: What is the worst that will happen to me? Can I handle that?
If you will play it down and pray it up, God will give you the ability to cope with the worst that will happen. Stop exaggerating the depth, the length, and the breadth of the problem.
The one battle most people lose is the batter over the fear of failure… try…
start…
begin…
and you’ll be assured you won the first round.
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3. Don’t wait.
If you are unemployed, don’t expect the phone to ring or a letter to miraculously show up in your mailbox with job offers. Don’t expect the government to telephone you and offer you a job. Don’t expect the union to call you and offer you a job. Don’t expect the company to call you and rehire you.
4. Don’t aggravate.
We have the power to make any problem better or worse. We do this when we react positively or negatively. The normal reaction would be to feel threatened by the problem. Threatened people become angry people. Fearful people reflect hatred. Hatred and anger only aggravate the problem. They are not positive reactions. They will not help solve the problem.
5. Illuminate.
Illuminate your mind. Get smart and then get smarter. Ask yourself some questions: “Has any other person faced my problem and overcome it?”
“What really is my problem anyway?”
“Is my problem unemployment or is it early retirement?”
“Is it a lack of money to meet my needs, or is it boredom?”
“Could I solve the problem of boredom by volunteering to work in my church or community organizations?”
6. Motivate.
“Every obstacle can be an opportunity” was my advice to still another person who was unemployed. “Think about that,” I said, “and come back to see me in one week and give me a list of all the new opportunities that face you today that wouldn’t have been yours if you were still employed.” One week later he came back with this list of exciting opportunities: (1) I do have the opportunity to start my own business; (2) I do have the opportunity to travel; (3) I do have the opportunity to go back to school; (4) I do have the opportunity to give more time to my church and to my children and grandchildren.
7. Bait.
Learn how to catch a fish!!
8. Date.
Put yourself out there
9. Sublimate.
Every problem, even yours, is loaded with possibilities. You can turn your mountain into a gold mind. Try “possibilitizing.” Believe that every time one door closes, another will open. Sublimate your problem. That means believing that every adversity holds within it the seeds of an undeveloped possibility.
10. Now dedicate.
Most people fail, not because they lack intelligence, ability, opportunity, or talent, but because they haven’t given their problem all they’ve got!
Anyone can succeed if he can get enthusiastic about life even when life seems empty. Doors will open to the enthusiastic person first!
11. Communicate.
Manage your problem by remembering that oftentimes the solution lies in help from some other source. Do you need help? Then ask for it. Don’t be too proud to tell people you need help.
12. Insulate.
Don’t isolate yourself from help, but do insulate yourself from negative forces and negative personalities.
Maintaining a positive mental attitude becomes a near-impossible task if we allow ourselves to be bombarded by the negative thoughts that constantly surround us.