(Today I'm wearing Pat's hat)
Solving Problems
Problems are made to be solved!
Some of us spend more time reacting to the fact that we have a problem than we do solving the problem. "Why is this happening to me?" . . . "Isn't life awful?" . . . "How come this had to happen?" . . . "Oh, dear. This is terrible." . . . "Why is God (the Universe, an agency, a person, or life) picking on me?"
Problems are inevitable. Some problems can be anticipated. Some are surprises. But the idea that problems occur regularly need never be a surprise.
The good news is that for every problem, there's a solution. Sometimes the solution is immediate. Sometimes, it takes awhile to discover. Sometimes, the solution involves letting go. Sometimes, the problem is ours to solve; sometimes it isn't. Sometimes, there is something we can clearly do to solve the problem; other times, we need to struggle, flounder, do our part, and then trust our Higher Power for help.
Sometimes, the problem is just part of life. Sometimes, the problem is important because we are learning something through the problem and its solution. Sometimes, problems end up working out for good in our life. They get us headed in a direction that is superior to one we may otherwise have taken.
Sometimes, problems just are; sometimes they are a warning sign that we are on the wrong track.
We can learn to accept problems as an inevitable part of life. We can learn to solve problems. We can learn to trust our ability to solve problems. We can learn to identify which problems are trying to lead us in a new direction, and which simply ask for solving.
We can learn to focus on the solution rather than on the problem, and maintain a positive attitude toward life and the inevitable flow of problems and solutions.
Today, I will learn to trust solutions, rather than be victimized by problems. I will not use problems to prove I am helpless, picked on, or martyred. I will not point to my problems to prove how awful life is. I will learn to trust the flow of problems and solutions. God, help me solve the problems I can solve today. Help me let go of the rest. Help me believe in my ability to tackle and solve problems. Help me trust the flow. For each problem, there is a solution.
From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie (c)1990, Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.
"Take what you need and leave the rest." I got nothing but moments to live.
Around two weeks ago I sustained a conversation with someone. This person also known as my sponsor had to listen the sentence "How come this had to happen?" expressed in probably 20 different ways. Today that I read this meditation, I felt a bit ashamed for the massive rant (apologies also to all my recovery buddies that have had to listen the same from me)
(and THANK YOU)
"Take what you need and leave the rest." I got nothing but moments to live.
This is wonderful; thank you for posting.
Big hugs!
Good stuff, V. Thanks for posting it... :)
When you're going through hell...keep going. --Winston Churchill There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still --Corrie ten Boom
Mindfulness and suffering:
(Talk by Thich Nhat Hanh): https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4fmi9J1-8E0#at=44
:D And no shame. We let it out, let go of it and keep climbing.
Acceptance. When I am disturbed, it is because a person, place, thing, or situation is unacceptable to me. I find no serenity until I accept my life as being exactly the way it is meant to be. Nothing happens in God’s world by mistake. Acknowledge the problem, but live the solution!
lol....I too have asked the question "Why did this happen to me?" I think that's a pretty human response to problems that come our way.
Game free since February 4 2013
I'd like to meet someone who hasn't said "Why me?" That could be the most popular first thought. But it's nice to know there are more options beyond that thought, so I thank you for posting and reminding me.
Your welcome guys :). Pat thanks for the video and I also think it's pretty human too but at times I fall in the trap and I get stucked and that's why now I can see how good is to tell to somebody else about whatever is going on, just to get a different perspective. I was used to deal with everything on my own (for the good or the bad) to the point of exhaustation. I was living an unfortunate sutiation and I decide to run from live and the problems at that time, all of them had a solution but I was not capable to see it. In a part, because I thought I could handle it and also because I thought I knew best than anybody else :/
"Take what you need and leave the rest." I got nothing but moments to live.
Ty Veronica and all of you that replied and added ((hugs))
I'm new to this site and read a bit every day - today I found this post.
I'll be meditating on it
I'm still gaming and have created problems due to it.
I'm just starting to accept I have this addiction and yes the almost inevitable question:
WHY .....................
comes to mind first
your post helps me to see some other angles and I'm grateful for it.
It's funny to say that, but I feel sad that real life has prevented me from being here for yesterdays meeting. I'm looking forward to the one today and almost can't wait to be at tomorrows meeting for newcomers.
If plan A didn't work ...the alphabet has 25 more letters ----> do NOT give up
Luke 18:27 - And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. (surrender)
Any person can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down. It is not the experience of today that drives people mad - it is the remorse of bitterness for something that happened yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.
Let us, therefore, live one day at a time! A day without giving in to our addiction is A GOOD DAY !!!
So true! Sounds so much like how my son deals with life (I think). I hope one day he starts to see the great benefits of sharing his feelings, emotions, thoughts.. It is too much to ask anyone to deal life's issues on their own, after all we are social beings, right? People see things from different perspectives which gives us a fresh look to the old problems.. Thanks for this!
"The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past. You can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches." "The first step toward change is acceptance." "Once you accept yourself, you open the door to change. That's all you have to do." "Change is not something you do, it's something you allow."- Will Garcia