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Problems occur in our daily lives.  A problem can be something simple like deciding whether to go to bed early because you need the sleep, or to rather go out and have a night out with your friends.  Sometimes problems can be solved easily and sometimes it takes weeks to solve a problem.  Some people have great difficulty in solving problems and some people can solve problems easily.  

Some people are just naturally good at problem solving, and many people underestimate themselves on just how good they are at solving problems.  

To solve a problem is to find all the pieces of a puzzle.  Certain skills are involved but mostly if you follow the correct steps it is quite easy.  A thousand piece puzzle might take longer to build but you use exactly the same technique to solve ALL puzzles.  

Remember the saying.  Practice makes perfect.  The more you practice something, the easier it becomes. 

                        

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A good way to practice problem solving skills is to play games.  Most of us have tablets or smartphones and there are various games available that can definitely help us to improve our problem solving skills.  I love Soduko!  

Sudoku is one of the most popular puzzle games of all time. The goal of  Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and  3×3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9. As a logic  puzzle, Sudoku is also an excellent brain game. If you play Sudoku  daily, you will soon start to see improvements in your concentration and  overall brain power. 

                                           

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To learn a SKILL you need to practice, and with determination you can learn and become a master.  The same applies to problem solving skills.  

To become a master at problem solving you need to be:

1.  Open minded  

Sometimes when you come across a problem, it may seem like a huge obstacle.  What you think is a serious problem, might not be such a big problem.  You are just looking at this HUGE problem from the wrong angle.  We often jump to conclusions and that is where things go wrong.

2. Analytical

Write down you problem.  Create a type of a spider-web.  Write down possible solutions to your specific problem.  Think of similar problems that you have dealt with and look at how that turned out.  Chances are that you can use the same method or expect the same result as with your previous problem.  If this specific problem occurs often, then you need to find ways to actually prevent this problem to reoccur.  Think outside the box.  

                                              

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3.  Do not assume and slow down

You might not find a solution immediately.  Do not see the outcome before you have tried the solution.  

Last week we started with a new topic in Mathematics- Algebra.  Now I can go into a heated discussion about algebra, and the need for learning this skill, but I am not going to.  After I explained a particular problem, one of my "negative" students immediately said:  I am going to fail Algebra!  

Needless to say, I did not carry on with Algebra during this period.  The lesson went into a totally new direction.  I started talking about failure in life.  How can you fail at something if you have not even tried it.  

The same goes for problems in life.  Problems are part of life.  We might not always understand it but it is an obstacle in life that we have to overcome.  Everything can not always go your way.  

Leave the problem for a few hours.  You might be so overwhelmed about this problem, that you do not have the strength to climb the mountain.  Rest a while or move on to something else.  You will be extremely surprised how easily you find a solution if your mind is rested.  You might come back and then find that it is easier to find all the little details and put them together in a jiffy.  Problem solved.  

Problem solving is similar to a hypothesis in an experiment.  You have this theory but you actually have to prove that this theory might work.  

                                      

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How to solve a problem effectively

                                 

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To solve any problem effectively you have to follow these steps.  

• Identify the problem
• Analyze the problem
• Find a possible solution
• Implement the solution

If you implement a possible solution and you find that the solution is NOT solving the problem, go back to identifying the problem.  Keep on trying until you find the correct solution!!!

Conclusion:

Life is all about obstacles.  We often feel that life is all about problems.  We need to see the positive things and start leaving the negative behind. If you change your whole outlook on life, you will see that life can be good.  

To have a few problems to overcome is not the end of the world.  Life is a bitch...and then you die.  Try and make the best of it while you still have the chance.  Life is short.  Live life to the fullest!  

                                                

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Please be sure to read my first three posts on this topic to catch up in case you missed it! 

https://steemit.com/life/@giantbear/what-is-emotional-intelligence-part-one

https://steemit.com/life/@giantbear/emotional-intelligence-vs-iq 

https://steemit.com/life/@giantbear/how-to-improve-your-emotional-intelligence-part-3 

https://steemit.com/life/@giantbear/emotional-intelligence-how-to-get-rid-of-negative-energy-part-4

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