There's Always Going To Be A Problem

Something that no one is above in life is having problems. That’s not to say that there’s something flawed about the system, but rather that the very essence of life is about solving problems.

I don't believe that all problems are the same. Some are very basic, like not having a safe environment to come home to or enough money to put food on the table. And some are more complex, like getting into an argument with a romantic partner.

I define a problem as “an unmet need”. When you label something as a problem it means that it’s not perfectly comfortable in your life. Something is being agitated or irritated, and it’s impacting your well-being. The size of the need determines the size of the irritation and therefore, the size of the problem.

What this means is that we’re naturally motivated to take action in ways that alleviate our problems and address our underlying, unmet needs.

You might notice that this explanation is integrating a bit with Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs. Not having money to put food on the table is an unmet need for survival. Getting into an argument with a partner is a reflection of a need for more love and connection.

As we continue to step our way higher up the pyramid, where the “needs” are less significant and the problems are less dire to solve, they create problems all the same.

And then when we get to the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs, we find ourselves seeking self-actualization.

What is self-actualization? I’d describe it as a need to be the very best version of ourselves and to maximize our contribution to the world.

This need is insatiable. Complete self-actualization can never be achieved. And it means that we’ll always have an unmet need and therefore, we’ll always have a problem.

So maybe this understanding will help you reframe the way you think about problems. Rather than seeing them as inconveniences in our lives, what if they’re actually stepping stones for our personal evolution? That’s what it’s there for at the top of the Hierarchy Of Needs, so why can’t it be true for every problem you experience no matter the need?

Problems are indications that there’s room for growth, for expansion, for improvement. And if that’s the ultimate purpose of life, then we should try to be thankful for the problems we face no matter the form they take. 

I don’t mean to discredit or minimize the hardship you might be facing from some of the problems in your life, but instead give you a new perspective you can use to approach them differently, and like a video game advance to the next level