You know what makes us human beings unique? It is our ability to be curious about the things around us, and constantly seeking to learn. The power of the human being is to find solutions to whatever we could think of, and that includes the problems that we face.
So, we are faced with a problem. What should we do?
A very practical person would say; look for the root cause and solve that. However, how often can we admit that we know what is/are the root cause(s) of our problems? I think this is why these questions are asked. Of course, there are simple problems like: My pen ran out of ink, what should I do? The logical answer would be to buy a refill, or buy a new pen.
However, that one seemingly simple problem can have a wide range of causes. Your immediate problem at the time was your pen out of ink. However, what if the main problem is the pen itself with an inefficient ink system? Or perhaps, the way you write forces you to use up more ink than usual?
This is where we can utilize the power of the human brain to consider all these questions and resolve them one by one. Of course, we can be like apes and continue doing the same thing over and over again; keep buying refillers. However, if running out of ink regularly is a problem you face, perhaps you should consider trying out other types of pen. Maybe you can find a pen that not only fits your writing style but has an efficient mechanism that minimizes ink flow.
If that does not work, maybe you should change how you write; consider pressing lighter on the paper to reduce ink flow from pen to paper.
Now, what was one problem had yielded three different solutions because you identified some possible root causes. Now, apply this to other types of problems.
As an undergraduate, this is how I tackle the problems I face on a daily basis. Instead of looking for just that one root cause that everyone would tell you to, I play around with the situation and I try to identify everything that could be causing the problem.
Let’s say, my problem is that I have a final essay due in a week and I have not typed a single letter on my document; what should I do?
Again, what everyone would say is: Quit doing whatever you’re doing and start writing.
A simple solution to a seemingly simple problem. However, by taking this as the single root cause to the problem is detrimental because once you start writing, that’s when you run into more problems.
That is where I would say, don’t blindly start writing for the sake of starting on that essay, and persist with the problem. Have you not started because of procrastination, distraction, or confusion? Perhaps, you are missing that inspiration to write? That is why I don’t quickly try to resolve the problems I face, because the more time I engage myself with a problem, the more solutions I can think of to resolve the problem.
Is this pure laziness? You know what they say: Whatever floats your boat.
The difference here is instead of always facing a problem with the same solution all the time, I treat each problem as an opportunity to try out something new and see if it would work for me in a given circumstance.
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