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“I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
— Thomas Edison
Most of the time, we are hesitant of problems. They frustrate us, annoy us, and irritate us. It’s not that we expect perfection; we simply want things to go smoothly. Many view problems as examples of failures.
But problems can be a good thing. They often indicate we are at least moving in a direction as we are working to solve issues. When you encounter a problem, it indicates that at least you are making progress towards your goals. If you are learning something new, or trying to solve a difficult situation and never run into a problem, you might actually need to worry. Problems can also help to identify things that are not working right or solutions you can take off the list.
Just as Edison continually ran into problems as he tried to create the light bulb, we will also run into problems as we make learn to live a simpler life. Things will not always work the way we expect them to work. Animals will break out of pens, storage tanks may develop leaks, insects and animals may chew through our newly planted garden. But we cannot let those problems frustrate us. We simply have to view them as progress on our way to perfecting the solution.
So, the next time you encounter a problem, take a deep breath and remember you are one step closer to meeting your goal.
