Problems are never unsolvable.
Problems are never insurmountable.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when problem solving.

1. Get acquainted with failure. If you are tackling complicated problems, you will fail. Don’t freak out and throw your hands in the air and walk away. Assess the situation, course correct, and move on.

2. Deconstruct. The old “how to eat an elephant” cliche is true. You can only eat one bite at a time. But the real work is in the transformation from whole to edible bites. Learn to love the deconstruction process. Smaller problems get solved.

3. Reconstruct and Iterate. This ties in a lot with #1. As you break problems into smaller components and solve them, sometimes when you put them back together they don’t create a workable solution as a whole. Lots of times the seemingly obvious solution creates ancillary problems that are worse than the original. If you reconstruct and the solution is no good, have the courage to fail and start again.

4. Learn and Change. I think it was Einstein who said, “We cannot solve today’s problems with the same thinking that created them.” Great problem solvers are willing to learn and change their minds.

We all have elephants to eat.
I hope you’re hungry. 😉

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

2 Chronicles 15:7 KJV

They said it couldn’t be done.
They said it was a terrible idea.
They said you were a bad egg.
They say a lot of things.

Believing what they say is not necessarily the right choice. 

Anything is possible.
Nothing is unbelievable.
Go see for yourself.

Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it : and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.

2 Chronicles 9:6 KJV

Truth builds – Lies destroy
Truth makes us strong – Lies make us weak
Truth makes us free – Lies bind us

A mistake is when we speak error by accident.
A lie is when we speak error with intent.
We don’t always know the truth but we know when we are lying.

For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Proverbs 8:7 KJV

Do I want to live right? 

What does “live right” even mean? Follow the rules?…which rules?
Follow the commandments?…which commandments?

When the leaders asked Jesus this question, he replied, there are two. If you get them right, you will be living right. Love God and love others as yourself. 

It’s amazing how the most profound wisdom is simple and clear.

Giving is the glue that holds our relationships together.
Giving is the glue that holds our homes together.
Giving is the glue that holds our communities together.
Giving is the glue that holds our country together.

WHY?
Giving makes us happy. When we are happy we communicate better; we love deeper; we care more; we listen longer; we have more capacity and energy to build relationships. I believe the foundation of everything worth anything is in relationships.

HOW?
When we give, our brain releases a neurotransmitter called serotonin that makes us feel good. The person receiving the gift also has a release of serotonin and they feel good. But the most peculiar thing research has shown is that observers also have a serotonin release and they feel good as well! I first heard this from my dear friend Pastor Mike while listening to an audio recording called The Science of Nice.

Connecting the dots of 1 Chronicles 29:9, great joy follows this path.

1. A Perfect Heart – Intention matters. Truly focus on someone else.

2. Willing Offer – Never give because you have to. Never give to get.

Bottom Line: If you find yourself in a mood or in a bad place emotionally. Sincerely do something kind for someone else. A willing offer with a perfect heart will put you on the road to great joy.

Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord : and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

1 Chronicles 29:9 KJV

I could never do that.
Why? I’m just not that smart.

It’s so easy to blame our intelligence for our mistakes or shortcomings but more often than not it’s our ignorance that trips us up. An adult is not going to change their IQ more than a few points but with a little effort anyone can eliminate ignorance. Here is a simple formula from Proverbs 5 that will help you learn almost anything.

Attend – Bow – Regard – Keep

1. SHOW UP. Find what motivates you. Goals and affirmations or pain and scars; whatever it is, find the thing that energizes you and use it to consistently show up. Attendance is a requirement. You cannot learn and improve if you aren’t there.

2. REMOVE PRIDE. Before you can learn anything you must believe you don’t know. A prideful mind is a closed mind. If pride will bow, you can see what you don’t know.

3. LISTEN. Thoughtfully listening and regarding a new idea is magical. When we listen, we shine a light on ignorance and it vanishes away.

4. DO IT. Put your new knowledge to work. Keep it, speak it, and act it out.

My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: [2] That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

Proverbs 5:1-2 KJV

Foundations are strength.
Foundations are stability.
Foundations are necessary.
Magnifical things are built on solid foundations.

Did you know foundations are not solo projects? The old cliche “We’re all in this together” is absolutely true. Each of us is gifted with abilities and excess in some areas. Generously help your neighbor patch their foundation and then humbly accept the help fixing yours.

If you are thinking to yourself… I know I have problems, but there is nobody who can fix them. You are wrong. But also know this, you are the catalyst. If you will consistently help those who are struggling you will reach up and find a hand when you are down.

And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.

1 Chronicles 22:5 KJV