Aug
Problem Solving by Reversal
Whatever its nature, when a problem presents itself to you and demands your attention, what do you do? Chances are you find it dominates your though to the exclusion of all else. It trumps every other responsibility and dilutes the attention other activities deserve. It can become the proverbial “monkey on your back” that sticks to you like a burr.
The negative impact of this mesmeric mindset influences the events and circumstances of your life experiences. Indeed, it must. Because the very definition of “mindset’ is that it it is “a fixed way of thinking, a mental attitude, that determines and influences events and circumstances” (Webster)
We also find it difficult, if not seemingly impossible, to break out of this mental block. Our natural instinct is to challenge it and try to think our way out of it by using our mind to banish the very thing it has produced; tantamount to “the blind leading the blind”. It is as Dr. Einsten observed, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that create it”. He added that, “We must learn to see the world anew”.
To do this, we will find it helpful to stop trying to mentally rearrange those mental elements that caused and perpetuate the problem in the first place. Let’s see it in more graphic terms.
The following diagram resembles a piece of pie on a plate.
Let the pie be symbolic of the problem that you must get rid of. As you have been taught, you feel you must first “understand” the problem so you will analyze the pie, determine whether it’s apple of blueberry, measure its weight and dimensions and learn all you can about the characteristics of the “problem”. You might even call in an outside expert who will study the problem and give you his assessment of the situation. You have done everything except resolve it. What’s necessary is to reject this procedure which doesn’t work, reverse it and view it from a new perspective.
Now look at the same diagram turned it upside down.
Now, instead of seeing only a piece of pie (problem) you see the whole, complete pie with the problem removed. The diagram is the same. It has not changed. The only thing that’s changed is the way you are viewing it. You have simply changed your perspective. Notice, too, that this reversal illustrates that the positive is devoid of any “problem”. In fact, I think you’d find it impossible to “see” the problem from this point of view.
Remember this illustration and use it as a reminder that you must always be alert to maintain the positive whole as incapable of entertaining any negative (problem).
This phenomenon is illustrated by any optical illusion. You look at a diagram and then, suddenly, it appears to shift and you see it from a completely perspective. What’s changed? Nothing has changed but your mental focus.
Practice using this phenomenon on any adverse suggestion that comes to you for acceptance. Soon it will become a natural, habitual thought pattern that will keep you focused on being responsive to the unfolding of productive new ideas and concepts. Remember , too, that Webster reminds us that to be “productive” is to “establish results, benefits and profits”.
It is not the “problem” that gives us those fearful, disquieting moments, it is our reaction to it. “When you react to appearances, we are out of control”.
