Freewrite #2 : Choose Your Problems

I mentioned a few weeks back in a previous 'Better You' article that I had read the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck, authored by Mark Manson. A key takeaway I took with me - but didn't mention in that particular post - was a profound question that over the last couple of weeks have contributed to major changes in my life. So I thought to myself that after my previously wildly successful freewriting article I might as well "jazz away" on this topic as well and see where my subconscious self end up.

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To start with, let's face it, in life you will always have problems. Regardless of how much material wealth you acquire or how far you venture on your spiritual path you will always face a life filled with problems. This is an important assumption, because it opens up the possibility to completely switch paradigm and re-examine your life:

Since every life comes with its own set of problems, life shouldn't be about trying to eliminate all your problems. But rather life should be about choosing the problems you actually enjoy to solve.

While it might seem simplistic at first glance, this vantage point carries extreme growth-potential.

Take a look at your life and the problems you face on a daily basis. As yourself: Is these problems I truly like to solve? Or am I just attached to some outcome which I don't enjoy the journey towards?

To give you a personal example; I wanted to become a professional DJ growing up, and this was a dream I pursued for many years. I actually did well and made it quite big - I played on events and festivals all over Sweden and Holland, released several tracks on noteworthy labels and got to know a lot of people in the industry.

Although for some reason I never committed fully, I never spent the required time in the studio and the only times I truly enjoyed the craft was when I was on stage. One of my most frequently asked questions by my friends is why I gave it up. The thing is I was in love with the end outcome; playing my music in front of people, feeling the spotlight, the fame, the prestige.

I never really loved the process, and in particular I didn't enjoy the problems I faced on a daily basis: Spending hours upon hours alone in the studio, trying to get a specific sound precisely right, and all the other shit that accompanies the music industry and all the politics involved. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

If I would have had this framework in mind, I would have seen this years before and probably would have pursued another career way quicker.

Looking at my life today, I have built my life around problems I like to solve. In both my professional life as a programmer and in personal life I everyday face problems that I love to solve.

And whereas before I have had struggles seeing whether a project would be worth my time or not I just ask myself the question: Is this a problem I would like to solve?

Fuck the outcome, look inwards and align your life with your skills and interests. Life becomes much more friction-less that way.

The key in life is to find problems you love to solve. And if you do so, you will eventually become a master at solving those problems, and external rewards such as money or other stuff you might need will arise as a bi-product.

Summing up, answer these questions for yourself:

1. Looking at life, do I enjoy solving all the problems I face on a daily basis?
2. If not, how can I solve less problems that I don't enjoy facing and instead solve more problems that I do enjoy solving?

I think this is a very interesting way to look at life. Hopefully this will resonate with you reading this as well. 🙏🏼

For those of you unfamiliar with freewriting, the art implies writing non-stop without pausing, just flowing, letting your subconscious parts of yourself to do the task of putting words upon the screen. 100% RAW.

Time spent writing: 15 minutes.

Have a great Saturday everyone.🙌🏼

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Freewrite : The Power of Momentum
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