3 Categories Of Problems in Life

This morning had me inspired with a podcast talking about categorization of problems that we faced throughout our lifetime. There are a total 3 categories of problems which are the simple ones, the contradict ones and the complex ones.

When we are still studying in the school up until tertiary, what we faced are all simple problems which have direct solutions. There are example like: if you want to get good grades, study the syllabus and practice; if you want to win a sport game, train hard with the team. In most cases, these kind of problems are less conflicting and requires only brute force to solve.

Then, when we are out of the community to work, there comes the contradict problems whereby there are always at least two choices standing ahead of you. Each choice you make will have different consequences and may not lead us to the path that we want. Nevertheless, we have to make the choice and move forward. That’s why for those fresh graduates who are just getting out from the school, we are not used to such category’s problem solving as we are used to the simple and direct ones. Therefore, it is normal to feel lost and become indecisive. At the stage, it is more about accountability and the ability to adapt to the problems ahead. Rather than not making any decision and stuck at that stage, seek for advice and read more about the path that we want to take. When there are certain amount of research done, then we can make a slightly better decision and proceed.

The ultimate category of problem is the complex ones which all of us find helpless with the problem like global warming, poverty, violence and so on. These are problems that are with no exact choices of solutions, no exact right or wrong side and there is never a utopian without such problem existing or a dystopian vice versa. Politicians and entrepreneurs are the ones who face these category of problems the most and they are also clueless some times on where will their effort on these problems will lead to. Nonetheless, they are the ones who instill beliefs on us that they will bring good change to the situation and as an entity, together we follow and commit. That is how entrepreneurs build great companies and politicians create strong countries. In the minds of the leaders, such complex problem may be simplified back to the category of problem of the simple ones, with their imagined solution as the key goal. That will makes the effort so much more clearer and simplified.

Well, that is how the cycle of problems work and I felt that it is true in many ways. We have to train ourselves to embrace the problems and learn how to solve them in different dimensions. Let it be the simple ones, contradict ones or the complex ones, we all need to take up the challenge and move forward. That’s what I need to tell myself and that’s what I need to act on.

This topic comes handy for me at this moment as I am facing the contradict problem and also the complex one. Some of the decisions had been made by me and from that point, I need to be aware of the following consequences and to act accordingly. However, I may felt helpless from time to time as there are just so many uncertainty at the moment and I do not know what is ahead of me. Plus, most of the situation has never been faced by me which creates the lack of confident in me. That explains the reason behind my dilemma recently. Nevertheless, I take this as a stepping stone for me to breakthrough. As long as I am able to go through this stage of life, I believe that myself could duplicate this courage to create a better life for me and the people that I loved and cared.

So, in your life, what are your problems and how you categorized them? Would love to hear from you.

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