:: 09:02:20 pm ::
How to be a good problem-solver  

Something that we all seem to have in common is problems. Some people see problems, throw up their hands and give up immediately. Others thrash about or throw money at their problems without resolution. I have watched people gripe, run for cover, fret, cry, or become nasty though none of these responses work.

I have noticed that people who are good at solving problems seem to have several traits in common. Here’s my top 10 list of these traits.

#10 - Problem-solvers face reality. They do not spend a lot of time in dreamland, wondering about what coulda been or woulda been if things were different. Things are NOT different. Problem-solvers know this and act accordingly.

#9 - Problem-solvers do not gripe, complain, whine, or sulk, and do not make trouble for others.

#8 - Problem-solvers are self-starters. They do not wait for someone else to point out that there is something wrong or to tell them how to fix it.

#7 - Problem-solvers do not keep lists of grievances, though they may remember and use past successes.

#6 - Problem-solvers use their imaginations to come up with new ideas that to try out, and they have the nerve to go ahead and test their solutions.

#5 - Problem-solvers do not look to others for assurances that cannot be delivered. They know who does and does not make decisions, and try to work with those who do.

#4 - Problem-solvers are optimists who work tenaciously to solve the problems facing them.

#3 - Problem-solvers are capable of allying themselves with others so that if a problem goes beyond their personal abilities, they can make use of the talents of others.

#2 - Problem-solvers effectively juggle their entire load of problems so that they all get resolved. They work on multiple fronts, not letting any one problem so dominate their attention (except in emergencies), that they lose perspective. They don’t make everything else wait until something is solved completely.

And number one:

#1 - Problem-solvers go the extra mile to solve problems and to help others solve their problems. They value win-win solutions whenever they are possible.

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:: 11:50:19 pm ::
Why is this taking so long?  

I had the idea to create a new website for Turning On the Light - Finding Your Luscious Place in the Spirit, and since I would be designing it anyway, I thought I’d just learn the background stuff (technical bits) as well. I’ve actually spent most of the summer working on this project.

Hmmmm, it is challenging. I have learned a lot and I’m loving the mental exercise. Since I’m a writer and designer anyway, I figured that adding this new skill would round out my abilities to create new products and get them out to the world more quickly. And I’m sure that will be the case. However, the initial learning curve is steep.

Having said that, I think you will love the new site and the new products that I’m bringing on line, like ways to achieve a deeper and happier spiritual life. Check out www.lusciousplace.com for more. Well, maybe not today. I haven’t published the site yet, but check back in a few days…I’m almost there.

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:: 08:47:47 pm ::
MOTS  

I had a conversation with a friend earlier this week in which she told me that she planned to re-double her efforts to bring about success in a certain area of her life. This is definitely an admirable goal given her circumstances, yet what puzzled me is that she planned to do it by repeating certain behaviours that have never worked before and just do more of them.

I call this MOTS, More Of The Same. If something doesn’t work once, twice, eighteen times, will doing more of it, doing it harder/longer/stronger be likely to bring about the hoped-for results this time? Maybe, but not likely.

A much better plan of action would be to examine where you want to go, or what your desired result is, look at what you’ve done before that did work and what did not. Then choosing only what has worked before, amplify or build on those actions.

If you have trouble coming up with new ideas yourself, gather a wisdom circle for yourself – a group of friends or people in your life who care about you – and ask them for their input. It’s amazing how many fresh and original thoughts and ideas we can’t seem to come up with ourselves but that our wisdom circle can.

Please don’t keep doing the same old, same old and expecting different results. That’s not what smart cookies do.

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:: 09:18:57 pm ::
When things go wrong  

We’ve all had days when almost nothing that we plan seems to go right, haven’t we? They are a fact of life, yet too often we let them ruin our mood or our week when they don’t have to.

I don’t claim to be able to easily handle everything that comes my way, but there are a few things I’ve learned over the years that have helped me to stay on a even keel when days don’t go right.

Today my design partner cancelled coming to work with me because she has too much going on right now. My travel partner for an upcoming conference now doesn’t know if she’ll be able to go because of a family situation. My hairdresser, with whom I’ve waited for weeks to get an appointment for a haircut, has stopped working until further notice. There was a family tragedy and I don’t blaim her a bit. My heart goes out to her.

I took my car in for new tires today, then forgot to give the garage the key to my steering wheel lock so when I returned to pick up the car they hadn’t begun the work! (All together now, “DUH!") Then they didn’t have the tires we wanted in stock and offered to upgrade us for a higher price.

Anyway, enough whining. None of these things compares to family heartbreak. They’re just inconveniences. When we see our inconveniences for what they are, we should be able to let them run off our backs like water off a duck’s. So let’s let stuff like that go, and go quickly. When it’s over, let it be over. Hanging onto our grievances makes a frustrating day into a rotten one.

We have the power to choose how we react to inconveniences and difficulties. We can be pitiful or we can be powerful. Personally, I don’t want to be pitiful. Do you?

Wendy
Be sure to visit my other new blog, Voice of the Spirit, at www.lusciousplace.wordpress.com.

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:: 12:57:52 am ::
Voice of the Spirit  

Hey, hey! I’m so excited! Yesterday I created a new blog called Voice of the Spirit, dedicated to spiritual topics and downloads that I receive from God from time to time.

You can find it at www.lusciousplace.wordpress.com. It is a production, if you can call a blog that, of my new business and spiritual venture called Luscious Place Resources. No point looking for that website just yet. I’ve registered the name www.lusciousplaceresources.com, but haven’t created the site yet. One thing at a time.

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