Problems vs Challenges

Do you have a challenge? Or a PROBLEM? What’s the difference? A challenge is a situation that may require attention, energy or effort. A problem is a challenge that’s compounded by stress/worry/anxiety/fear/anger etc. A problem manifests in the body, a challenge doesn’t.

When you have a problem you can feel it in your body. It shows up as a tightness or contraction or pull or heaviness or ickiness. It’s not pleasant. It’s helpful to see these unpleasant sensations as they’re waving red flags that alert you that a challenge has turned into a problem.

If you’re trying to solve a problem then your mind is in a state of fear/worry etc. That’s the mind that’s looking for a solution. It’s very state interferes with its abilities and limits its perspectives.

So what can you do when you have a problem? Stop. First, stop. See what’s happening in your body and your mind. First, stop looking for solutions. 

For example, I’ve been meaning to write a post (this post) for the new year for a few weeks and am just now doing it. It’s been a problem for me. Each time I thought about it I encountered worry and a twisting in my gut. This morning I finally stopped and saw that the idea of this email had transformed from a challenge into a problem. So I stopped. I stopped trying to figure what to write. I just stopped.

I finally paid full attention to the twists and pulls that were happening in my body and the narrow and tight gymnastics occurring in my mind. As I watched and waited those things began to calm down. The problem began to disappear. The challenge of what to write remained. But without the problem, this is what I wrote. 

Pain in the body can sneakily morph from a challenge into a problem. 

For instance, I’ve been dealing with a frozen shoulder for quite some time now. Usually it’s a challenge, sometimes it’s a problem. When it’s become a problem I worry about the pain, which makes it worse. I get heavier, tighter, subtly more contracted in my whole body. I see my shoulder getting worse; I see all the pain I’ve experienced in the past. This makes whatever I’m doing harder and more miserable. When my frozen shoulder is a challenge there’s no worry, no anxiety or fear or anger. I feel the pain and maybe there’s something I can do about it, maybe there’s not. If there’s some movement or massage or stretch that I can do in the moment that will help I will do it. But if I don’t know what to do I know I don’t have to get tight or fearful, there’s no need for a problem. For instance, the other day I was driving and my shoulder hurt. I didn’t know what to do with it in that moment. But I didn’t have a problem. 

I had pain but no problem!!!

When has your mind changed a challenge into a problem? Your body tells you. The next time you notice this try stopping. Just stop. 

If you’d like some help let me know.