Problems II

Still having problems in life? Congratulations! Still alive...

I hope you do not have prejudices regarding this word: PROBLEM. Actually, the fact that you still have problems indicates your own energy, because there is no problem without a solution, and if there is solution, there is life.

But how to solve the problems?

For logical or mathematical problems, you can use basically a simple process:

• Analysis. One tries to understand the problem from various angles, open to new paradigms and possibilities.
• Synthesis. After expanding the problem for understanding, it's time to "repack it". It is common the problem changes at this stage, taking an easier form to be handled, or perhaps more interesting.
• Solution. It comes as a natural evolution of the problem. It is the last stage of the process.

Well, if we use the same process for general problems adapted to the human side, we get:

• Analysis. It is essential that you understand the problem from several perspectives. Talking to other people, reading books with a positive approach or just sitting and contemplating on the situation helps to take the darkness and negativity out of the problem. By giving light you solve it by half, corresponding to the emotions that come along with it.
• Synthesis. On the screen of your mind, the problem becomes something you can work. It can be an image or a simple paragraph, small, that carries the essence of the problem.
• Solution. With positive attitude and awareness, look at the problem and make a decision on what to do about it. It is important to understand that not always the solution is related to the personal desire. For example, the solution can be let go and let someone go - not the best, from the point of view of the desire for not being alone, but the most important thing is to reach a stage of full contentment.

And if you really want to work with the problem in another dimension ...

• Analysis. Be detached from the problem completely. Through meditation, it is very simple. You can "deliver" the problem to God and just enjoy the relationship with the Supreme Being, who will give you all the power you need for this.
• Synthesis. On the screen of your mind, look at the problem as something positive. Experience the solution that comes along with the problem, thanking life for this opportunity for improvement.
• Solution. Assimilates deeply the meditation experience, being inspired by the solution that you are taking into your life. Allow the problem to continue with God as Father and Friend, but bring you the fantastic solution you realized. Apply it into practice, with courage, enthusiasm and love.

I hope it will help you.

No problem

One of the biggest challenges a translator faces is to be faithful to the one he or she is translating. Even when the translator does not agree. A short time ago, I was translating a friend's lecture in which he was making a strong statement: THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. But...

As a coach, I've learnt to avoid certain words, among them... Yes! Exactly: PROBLEMS. But...

But, what is it so bad in a problem, really?

In fact, between using words like challenges, opportunities for improvement or lessons, I believe the word PROBLEM is much more effective in terms of motivation. Why?

A problem is anything that demands a solution: there are math problems, problems in terms of food, sleep and harmony in relationships.

The key word for PROBLEM is implicit: SOLUTION. A problem ALWAYS have a solution, otherwise it is not a problem...

If there is a challenge, sometimes the solution is far off as it depends on the individual's skills. There can be opportunities of improvement, but they vanish after a while and even though we are taught some lessons, it is not sure we will learn anything.

By having a problem, there is the mental clarity that THERE IS ALWAYS A SOLUTION. Maybe the person will need to learn some skills or develop certain capacities, but the solution is there. Better, in the school of life you can copy from others - so, if someone else has solved the same problem, just adapt her or his solution to your own life.

I suggest you to start to see problems in another way, as a circumstance that you will be able to solve FOR SURE, as its solution already exists.

No problem...

The Indian Dream

The Economist has always been my favorite magazine, even though they call it a newspaper. I enjoy reading so much that I make a point to read it through, even though it takes a month. Or two.

However, sometimes they make mistakes, as possibly anyone and any magazine. I feel their article on the Indian dream is probably one of these big mistakes.

No mistakes of course in the data - none I could put a finger on, at least. And the serious analysis is also OK. But they do miss the point about the dream...

Because dreams are not an object of analysis. Dreams, in the sense of a pure desire, an objective in life or a vision of the future, are a powerful motivator that can transform lives.

I go to India about twice a year and I have seen with my own eyes the progress of the country and that dream people have. They don't revere poverty as the magazine says, but they accept it. That acceptance acts positively in the society: it is not uncommon that someone who is very poor is able to put at least one of his children to school, and that child one day is able to send one of her own to the college, until many years later, the cycle of poverty is broken. Comparing with other places with high rates of poverty, Indians live generally happy.

What Indians revere is life in itself. What they revere is a sense of honor you hardly find in the West anymore. What they revere is God, with a deep respect and tolerance towards any way of worshiping.

And because of that, I feel the real dream in India is not so much to have a car, a proper house or a restore its original. Its real dream is to keep that energy we in the world need so much, that natural spirituality someone just called soft power.

Whilst religions have divided, split and created wars, India's spirituality is a reason to join, get together and share. Yes, there has been conflicts but they have been provoked by politicians or old-school members of clergy; Indians enjoy the diversity and they are perhaps the only people in the world that can find unity among that diversity.

It is a dream the whole world can use. Right now, and I welcome that dream.

When the butterfly gets stuck

As a natural process, caterpillars turn into beautiful butterflies. There is no decision-making, obstacles from other people or anything which is not natural.

Oh, yes, let's not be romantic about it, I am sure a whole bunch of predators is waiting for that moment when the vulnerable caterpillar is becoming something totally different and so many butterflies never see the daylight. However, what I would like to talk is about the differences with the human caterpillar, that is, you and me.

When any person starts his or her own transformation process towards a unique caterpillar, it involves not a decision from nature, but from the person to do it. That is what makes it happens initially. Sometimes, transformation is caused by something external, like the death of a spouse, but the real transformation only happens when its process starts from a deep, sincere and genuine desire for change. If that ingredient is not present, transformation will be something ON and OFF, relying on external factors like how job is going or a physical guru.

During the transformation process, a human being just like the caterpillar counterpart requires a set of situations to happen. If they are not present, then the the human butterfly can get stuck somewhere in the middle, or worse the transformation can reverse and an even uglier caterpillar emerge:

• A final goal. It is fundamental that during the whole transformation period the person keeps in mind her or his final objective in life, that wonderful vision. It is not only to remind the person where he or she is going to, but it is also a powerful motivator when things go wrong, and a real change tends to attract many wrong things.
• A proper environment. The human caterpillar needs space (openness to try, fail, and try again, experimenting with many aspects of life), support (people, books, movies or music that not only inspires but also guides), time (a specific schedule is important for an effective change; retreats, seminars, courses or other events are also efficient ways to use time) and a method (it implies a knowledge, certain values and orientation on how to implement that in life). If the person does not have a good physical environment, awareness can also created a kind of mental stage that will work like an environment.
• Constant checking. In nature things are very easy and when the butterfly is ready, it simply flies away. In the case of human butterflies, it is need to check constantly about the current state of the transformation and be ready to correct the transformation route.
• Enjoy! Probably that is quite similar to the nature: when the human butterfly is ready, it is important to enjoy the sweet fruit of self-transformation.

Hope this can be helpful in your own transformation. Have a nice flight!