How to Face Problems in Peace
The ability to face problems in peace not only defines the quality of the results that can be obtained but also the physical and emotional state with which one emerges to deal with future setbacks.
About productivity, it is important to define when a genuine problem is faced (at least one that justifies action) and when not. Since many times, it is the individual himself who increases the inventory of his problems unnecessarily.
The mind and body become conditioned when they perceive the threat of a problem. They react by focusing on it and paying attention to other things in everyday life. This defines productivity in accomplishing tasks and objectives.
More problems, less productivity; lower productivity, higher probability of future problems.
People should be honest with themselves when accepting the existence of a problem that warrants treatment. Nothing takes advantage of the idle exercise of multiplying adversity. The natural dynamics of problems are complex in itself, and increasing them unnecessarily is an absurd mistake.
The symptom of the existence of a problem is the loss of peace.
When a person feels that they have lost balance in their inner tranquility, they face a conflict that deserves attention. Enjoying a state of relative peace is essential for productivity and general well-being. When an external factor alters this balance, it must be understood that a problem has arisen and it is advisable to act on it.
- People become their greatest enemies when they allow something to upset their emotional stability without reasonable justification. The "imaginary" problems, the exaggerated misadventures, the fatigue of the "spiritual hypochondriac", and all the manifestations of tribulation that bring much smoke and little fire, constitute an unforgivable attempt by man against himself.
- Emotional balance must be protected like a few things in life. It cannot be sabotaged from within. And even the external shocks themselves must be large for them to be affected eventually. This is the goal of tackling problems in peace.
- The motor element of human activity is inscribed in its non-physical dimension. There lies all the emotions, the impulses, and the will. The physical and corporeal only obey commands.
- The response to adversity is a domain of reason, not of the heart and less of the stomach. And you can certainly face problems with peace of mind! It is a matter of choice and not determinism.
- Life is a strictly personal challenge.
People become their greatest enemies when they allow something to upset their emotional stability without reasonable justification. The “imaginary” problems, the exaggerated misadventures, the fatigue of the “spiritual hypochondriac”, and all the manifestations of tribulation that bring much smoke and little fire, constitute an unforgivable attempt by man against himself.
Inner peace is a fragile containment network that is supported by the individual.
Nobody is particularly attentive to helping anyone, less because they have lost “internal peace.” Everyone is responsible for protecting their own well-being. Now, when you attack it yourself, it is absurd to expect the remedy to come from outside.
Emotional balance must be protected like a few things in life. It cannot be sabotaged from within. And even the external shocks themselves must be large for them to be affected eventually. This is the goal of tackling problems in peace.
Objectivity and rationality should prevail in the evaluation of a problem, never the passions.
Care for emotional well-being should be extreme, and ideally NEVER admit that something has enough power to put you at risk. One of the few things that cannot be taken away from a man is the way he decides to understand and face his problems. He, and only he, defines doing it from the plane of objective tranquility, or the domain of anguish. It is a completely personal matter.
Now, in support of calmly approaching problems, it helps to ask the following: what special benefit is obtained by treating a problem with fatigue and distress? What is saved or what is avoided? What is the advantage?
The answer is obvious, although it is difficult to make it transcend from logic to experience: anguish never helps in solving a problem. No passion does.
All of them only give greater power to adversity.
From logic, it is not easy to understand why people face their problems without peace, consciously affecting their emotional balance. In essence, it is somewhat incoherent, but universal practice.
Most alter their emotional state when faced with problems. It is a pernicious routine that is mistaken for “normality.” To the point that it is strange to see a “calm” person when faced with adversity.
To understand the consequences of interpreting as “normal” the approach to adversity from anguish, it is worth remembering the following:
The motor element of human activity is inscribed in its non-physical dimension. There lies all the emotions, the impulses, and the will. The physical and corporeal only obey commands.
Stability is the product of managing those variables in the non-physical dimension. There, the elements that generate productivity reach balance, as well as calm and peace.
Emotional stability is a center of gravity where these elements “orbit” in a specific order. It is a “center of gravity” that perfects the balance. A specific point that explains the order. This “center of gravity” adjusts one variable when another breaks down and maintains general equilibrium. The human being is barely aware of the existence of this “gyroscope of the soul” on which all personal development depends.
Variables that come from abroad and are not handled well, affect this “center of gravity”. They prevent “compensation” and impact people’s well-being and behavior.
The existence of “peace” is a signal emitted by the emotional structure from the very center. Peace is the product of the state in which the motor emotions are found. That is why it becomes a sign. An unmistakable alert to the “internal state”.
Problems, genuine or “imaginary”, activate that signal.
To protect your emotional stability and your precious point of balance, here are some recommendations that allow you to face problems in peace:
1. DO NOT ADMIT, in any case, that adversity has enough power to seriously alter the emotional balance.
The specific verb is that: admit.
Adversity can be great and its energy power, but in the person lies the power to admit that it has effects on the Being. It is one thing for the problem to cause discomfort, but another to admit the damage and make it a guest of the emotional structure.
Each person has the inalienable right to open the door to their emotions. Nothing and no one else has it. Everyone has their key and the “right of admission.” If access to any disturbing element is canceled, inner peace will always emanate from the Being that accompanies the most complex circumstances.
Is this difficult? Yes. But it is something that depends exclusively on each one, and therein lies its value.
2. It should be understood that the most intelligent way to face and act on problems is with rationality.
Not emotionally, calmly. Controlling the anguish, with serenity. Without haste. Always with a positive attitude.
And for this statement to transcend the comfort of a few letters, it is enough to ask yourself these questions honestly. How much help does distress provide in solving problems? How much time does fatigue save? Which “concerned” person has the record of solving problems?
The response to adversity is a domain of reason, not of the heart and less of the stomach. And you can certainly face problems with peace of mind! It is a matter of choice and not determinism.
3. To have the intimate area of emotional stability safe, helps a lot to establish a second “protection network”.
1. There are certain TIMES to deal with a problem and others when you don’t have to.
It is necessary to establish a physical division of time. Problem-solving is a job – it takes effort, focus, and resources. But in the same way as any other work, it demands rest and “disconnection”. At some point, the attention must be turned off.
2. The tension caused by the treatment of the problem MUST be externalized. It must flow out and not remain “encapsulated” inside.
When tension “explodes” from this second circle of protection, it maintains basic emotional balance and peace in its essential domain.
It is a mistake to “carry the procession inside.” Man is not made of stone and steel; frustration must flow out. In this, physical activity, dialogue with other people, prayer, meditation, hobbies work well. Each one with its own catalyst.
3. The understanding and treatment of the problem should be shared with other people. This contributes to the effort to deal with problems in peace.
Help is indispensable and not resorting to it is foolish.
If the problems correspond to the professional or work environment, they must be faced as a team. One thing is the responsibility for the results but another is the shared task.
Great leaders engage others in conflict resolution. They lean on them and draw energy from the collective effort. Quixotic attitudes are not effective.
If the problems are personal, the inner circle of relationships should be activated to share the effort.
However, it is not about sharing the “concern”, but about reaching synergistic points that simplify and alleviate the pressure imposed by the setback.
Many people calculate that they do good to everyone by sparing them the pain of sharing problems and difficulties. They strain their back and carry the weight alone. Later they realize that there is no worse friend or family member than the one who has lost inner peace and lacks, sometimes irretrievably, emotional balance and physical health.
In the inescapable world of tribulations, the maxim that guides relationships is “today for you, tomorrow for me.” In what other sense can friendship or love of people be understood?
4. One of the most important protection mechanisms against adversity is to ALWAYS consider that every problem is, in reality, an opportunity.
At any setback, you can take advantage of it. Every conflict presents the possibility of growth, of becoming stronger. There is no wiser teacher than difficulty.
Understanding that without proof there is no victory constitutes a solid guarantee of peace and even joy.
Problems are also like those dogs that barked as Don Quixote passed by: “the Sancho dogs bark, a sign that we are moving forward …”
5. In the midst of the conflict, in the hardest moments, when strength wanes and frustration seems a logical conclusion, it is good to understand that life summons everyone but receives few in the circle of those who prevail over adversity.
Few heads are crowned, very few receive laurel. This is not fair that rewards the competition, it only admits winners.
6. Finally, it is good to highlight the love that one feels for himself, the value that he gives himself.
In that proportion, inner peace, inner balance, must be taken care of.
Although there are people blessed by the love of others, protected by the affection of others, no one has enough capacity to live for one, to feel for one.
Life is a strictly personal challenge.
If you don’t love yourself, you can’t love others either. By not taking care of yourself, you cannot take care of others. If you don’t feel sorry for yourself, no one else will.
Existence is an act of permanent self-respect, in it lies the value of a man of integrity. Hence the obligation to face problems in peace.
