Turn a Problem Into a Gift - A 3x P Definition of Problems
Hey You, Now it's time to...
It’s time to put some words to those problems because what is it that makes a problem a problem and not a challenge?
Of course, it has a lot to do with the words we chose to use. Do we describe a surprise as a challenge? Or as a problem? Or do we use the word gift? Though I do want to argue for the fact that three things are present when a challenge becomes a problem. Three things that when we are aware of them we can turn a problem into a challenge and a challenge into a gift. It’s empowering and you can do it too!
Okay! Let’s get to it because I am sure you are curious to know how to eliminate problems from your life.
So! Do we like surprises? Yes, we think, because we romanticise the idea of a surprise. But looking at our life I am confident to say that most surprises we call problems. Right? We didn’t plan for the car to break down, or the washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher to stop working the same day. They are problems.
Let’s turn it around right now!
When we are faced with a problem as opposed to a challenge we feel helpless, down, uninspired to find a solution and fearful. A problem is defined by these three things - and they all begin with a P. Ready?
1
Pervasive: We have a tendency to expand on the problem. Say something happens to an item of ours, or in one of our relationship or at work. We let the problem pervade our whole life. We might even use words as: “every time”, “always”, “not again” or say: “the whole day is ruined”. Do you recognise this? I do for sure. We let ONE problem in ONE area of our life pervade all other parts, relationships and areas of our life.
2
Permanent: It is so easy to believe our emotions to be permanent. I know that we all know, they are not. But when our emotions are exploding and anger raging it is easy to believe them to be permanent. It is hard to shift from negativity to positivity. But perhaps next time, after reading this and recognising the three P’s - it becomes much easier to make that shift. Remember, the word “emotions” literally means “moving out”. When I read that I felt such an “aha”-feeling.
Last but not least:
3
Personal: Oh boy, don’t we all get into this. We think of ourselves as so important that the whole is centred around us and when something happens, we take it personally. “Why did x,y,z happen to me?”. "If just I was x,y,z or could do a,b,c then this would never have happened to me”. Gaze towards the sky, feel the earth beneath you. We are all so small, so insignificant and at the same time, we each mean the world. Life isn’t happening to us. Life isn’t trying to punish us. Life is happening for us and it is our responsibility to grab the opportunities and turn problems into gifts. No one else can do it for us. No matter how rough it is. And it's the loving truth, I know because I am also living, that you can do this! You got it.
Turn your problems around today. No one can do it for us, but reach an arm or two out if you need, because there are people that can help tidy, and we all need a hand. 
I hope you found the three P's of a problem empowering. I learned them from one of the most inspiring people in the world, Tony Robbins.
Have a day full of wonders!:)
Light
