5 Ways to Handle Problems That Keep Coming Back |
What Does "Self Help" Mean?
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Recurring struggles can reveal personal values and help clarify what deserves your attention.
Some unwanted behaviors persist because they help us avoid discomfort or meet an underlying need.
Shifting attention beyond what's wrong can create a more balanced and compassionate perspective.
Accepting what cannot be changed can free up energy for meaningful action and personal growth.
When I planted my fall garden here in Santa Barbara, I was most excited about the sunflowers. I had finally solved the problem of our ground squirrels. My bedroom window looks out over the garden, and now the sunflowers are a good five feet tall, with buds forming. When I wake up in the morning, they are the first thing I look for.
Except, smack in the middle of my view is some construction workers’ porta-potty.
Many mornings I look out there, hoping to see a sunflower, and instead I see an electrician exiting, pulling up his fly.
Such is our experience in life. Just as soon as we solve one problem, another one is blocking our way, interrupting our happiness.
Before I go on, consider this:
What are the sunflowers in your life right now?
What is the porta-potty?
Problems are like ground squirrels, and the construction workers, they keep coming back and you don’t get to decide........