Problem creator

 

Every day we are exposed to lots of problems, with lots of variants, with lots solutions or decisions in front of us which lead to even more consequences.

Once we decide to deal with one of this “problems” we should find the root of it, and as a friend used to say: “Somebody must take the blame for this, and ain´t gonna be me.”

So, finding someone else to blame is not a difficult task. We usually do it immediately and automatically.

But then, finding a solution gets even more difficult. Linking the possible solution with our problem and expecting the one we blamed to take care of it, makes progress impossible.

But changing that mentality could benefit us immensely.

Your real power

If someone would tell you right now that you are more “in charge” of your happiness than you think, what would your answer be?

Of course, we all are now aware of our “responsibility and influence” on our own happiness and well-being.  We have read a lot lately about how important our thoughts and feelings are to influence our end results.

But most times we need a reminder of this, because as soon as the things become difficult, we tend to forget our own power and immediately go back to “desperation mode”.

The XIV Dalai Lama once said: “If there is no solution to the problem then do not waste time worrying about it. If there is a solution to the problem then do not waste time worrying about it”.

And I have been many times there, where I thought things were very rough and I felt powerless and scared for the “magnitude” of the problems I had right in front of me.  But after some time, with the help of others or even through my own merits, I finally realised that things were not as huge as they seemed.

The train

I remember that little train I received as a gift when I was little. It was beautiful and used one of those fat old batteries to feed the engine and a little light it had on the front.

It had these mechanisms attached in the front and in the back sides, it was like little buttons than when pressed changed the direction of the engine, so when the train found an obstacle on its way that pressed this button, the train changed direction and began to go backwards. Same when the train found the end of the track, the back button| was pressed by the obstacle and changed the direction forwards.

It might not sound very impressive when compared to today’s standards in toys technology, but considering that this was a long time ago, to me it was really marvellous then.

After a while, instead of waiting for the train to reach the end of the track and crash against it so it began to go forward, I began to “help it” by using my finger to make it change direction faster.

Then I expanded the track and added a bridge and other details to make the “ride” more fun. I loved it.

Sometimes I feel like that train.

I begin to go forward with no “obstacles” on the way and suddenly an unexpected situation appears and “shifts” my direction making me to go back, sometimes for quite a long time, until “something” stopped me and helped me to change my direction to continue my journey forwards.

Nowadays, after expanding my track with many new options, bridges, tunnels, new landscapes and sceneries. I am working on my inner mechanism in order to avoid going too far backwards. That way I can stop, observe, learn and continue my journey advancing continuously.

Of course that is not as simple as it sounds, I need to learn and plan significantly, since my subconscious mind plays lots of games with my conscious mind, making her believe that some obstacles are real, thus activating the “break system” unnecessarily. But now my brain is getting used to respond in a faster way so she can continue its way faster than before.

The thin line (Rambling)

One of the hardest things for me is trying to identify the difference between a “forced” situation and a “natural” one.

And now I know I am not alone there, because that is one of the most frequent questions I get asked all the time.

When I am trying to “force” an event, an action, a response to something that suddenly appears in my path.  I have learnt to “measure” my direction depending on the “roughness” of the road.  That is, when you are finding too many “rocks” on your path, that could be a signal that you are transiting the wrong road.

The test

When you study a particular subject you are aware that after a certain period of time your teacher will try to evaluate your learning level by applying an exam.

Most educational systems have this habit of doing exams weekly, monthly some even more often and then at the end of the school period.

Nobody object this.  We all accept it, if not willingly at least we don´t make a big fuss about it.

Your future, now

Despite that you are still here now, that you have survived and overcome thousands of dangers and obstacles in your path. Despite that you have always been protected in many ways seen and unseen…

Even that some problems seemed insurmountable, so many obstacles looked difficult to avoid and some people impossible to reach. You are here now, and you are well.

You can look at your past right now and see how things managed, problems were solved and apparent obstacles disappeared or turned into advantages.

And even with all those proofs in your baggage, you still insist in doubting about your future? Come on.

Distance

One of my friends is very small, or like she likes to say. “petite”. Her legs are short and she doesn’t walk very fast. So she was not used to walk long distances.

I am just the opposite, I have got long legs and walk extremely fast.

She looks everything from her perspective, obviously, so when I told her about my long walks, she couldn’t believe me, to her those distances are extreme. To me are normal.

The voice

Wait! You have been through too many things in your life and you might not be perfect, but you are a gem who took a long time and effort to be who you are now.

You have reached this far and it would be a shame if you’d stopped right now and decide to finish your journey just a few inches from your goal.

I know your trip have been difficult, you have survived and you are a living example for all of us who are watching you, even if you haven’t noticed us.

The wall

We have all met a dead end in our paths. We are suddenly walking freely with no obstacles on our way when after the first turn we find a dead end, a big wall right in front of us that makes us stop in an abrupt manner.

Then we need to decide what to do next. Stay there looking at the wall trying to figure out some way to climb it, go through it, under it or whatever other option we might find. Or we can just turn around and search for a new path to continue our journey.

The technique

I was so impressed to see how those black belt men were able to break a pile of bricks with their bare hands.  Especially those oriental men who looked so small and thin standing in front of a pile of bricks, wood boards or blocks of ice, but when they hit their target and pulverise it, they look like powerful giants.

But it was my turn, I was about 8 years old and very thin, I was even smaller and thinner than the rest of the students in the room, but my teacher was asking me to break a brick for the first time for an exhibition of our martial arts school.