How to face your problems? If I had a dollar, Euro, or whatever everytime someone tried to ignore their problems, I’d be the wealthiest individual on the planet right now.
And given that Elon Musk tops that list with a whopping $839 billion, that would be no small feat.
We humans are absolute experts at avoiding, evading, and plain old ignoring our problems.
It’s almost ingrained into our DNA and to a certain point it has to be otherwise we’d never make it from crawling to walking BUT there comes a time where you actually have to face the music.
Today, we’re looking at the X steps you need to face and solve your problems: For REAL!
How to solve your problems? 10 steps
I hate when people tell me problems are opportunities for growth. I know that they are and that often we grow in ways we never imaged but that doesn’t mean they’re fun. For me, they aren’t.
So here’s the quickest way I’ve found to overcome them and to stop repeating the ones I’ve overcome.
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Acknowledge there’s a problem
There comes a point in time where you can’t ignore the fact that you have a problem, try as you might.
You stand on a scale, or you’re overdrawn, or your partner moves out. Typically, some action will show you that a problem exists.
How will you know?
Because it’ll suck and you’ll feel horrible.
You have three options here;
- Pretend the feelings don’t exist – you know when you just end up doomscrolling on social media or you go out every night so you don’t have to be alone with yourself.
- Ignore the situation – who needs a relationship anyway, right?
- OR acknowledge that you have a problem
Trust me when I say that option 3 is the only way out. It’s also the fastest!
I’m sorry to break it to you, but I myself tried to ignore my problems for years, and it didn’t work.
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Define the problem
What IS the actual problem? Define it.
Firstly, in what category does it come from?
It’s usually from
Once you know the category, you’re halfway there. Now it’s simply a matter of actually defining the problem.
For example:
- Work: I lost my job
- Wellness: I suffer from anxiety
- Relationships: I’m heartbroken
This can be scary, I know, but be kind to yourself. Also, I can promise that this isn’t rock bottom and you’re not here to stay.
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Identify the source
Generally, problems come from some source. Of course, sometimes shit happens, but often it’s because of our own issues.
So if you really want to solve your problems, you’re going to have to dig a little deeper than just surface level.
For instance, if you’re in debt, you may need to look at where you overspend. Or if you battle with anxiety, it’s worth taking the time to write down which activities provoke your anxiety and which activities lessen it.
Or if you’re burned out, it’ll be important to address the burnout and perhaps behavior such as people-pleasing.
Try a compassionate approach of inquiry with yourself rather than being critical. Treat yourself as you would your best friend.
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Find the belief holding the problem in place
What’s holding this problem in place? For example, you may believe “Nothing ever changes for me”.
Or “I can’t do this”.
Or “I’m too old”.
You’ve got this. If you’re really battling to shift things then maybe it’s time to get some support in the shape of a therapist.
People often say to me “But Lisa I can’t afford a therapist”. But they’ll spend on a meal out or going to the hairdresser.
Therapy is the best investment you’ll ever make.
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Plot solutions
What are possible solutions to your challenges? Not just to the problem itself but to the underlying behaviors.
For example, if you’re overweight, of course, the solution is to exercise more and eat less or just eat more healthily.
But there’s a reason you didn’t do that in the first place.
If you battle with emotional eating, then that’s what you’ll need solutions to. (This is incidentally what I wrote about in my book “Carbs, Curves and Everything in Between”.
Get what I’m saying?
If you overspend every time you’re in an emotional crisis, the solution isn’t to spend less; it’s to learn to handle emotional crises differently.
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Describe the dream
What’s the dream?
Yes, yes, I know we all want to have financial freedom, a fantastic body and a relationship where we get everything we want.
The human imagination is fantastical, but try to get specific about the details…
- What number will give you financial freedom?
- And perhaps financial peace is more important than financial freedom now?
- If you want to still live, what does a fantastic body look like within that picture
- And also maybe define what the dream FEELS like instead of looks like e.g. a healthy body full of vitality etc.
Be specific, and ALSO set realistic expectations so you’re not permanently disappointed and don’t add to your problems.
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Take action
Awareness is the first step but at the end of the day, action creates momentum when solving your problems.
What steps, even if they are small, can you take daily to move forward?
Write them down and put them in your calendar. And stick to them.
Each small step you take creates momentum. Consistency matters more than one monumental effort in most things.
And that goes for landing a new job, getting in shape or tackling burnout.
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Don’t give up
It’s hard to keep going when you don’t see results, but often at the beginning of a process, there aren’t any results.
There are failings and learnings that often need to be integrated before you see results.
This is often the time where you’ll tend to feel hopeless. Keep the faith, you’re building resilience.
But I’m not getting results?
Sometimes we go through long periods of struggle. It can feel like we’re stuck for years in one dynamic. And often we can be.
In case you don’t watch motorbike racing (it is very niche) one of the world’s most famed riders, Marc Márquez endured a 1,043-day winless streak in MotoGP, spanning from the 2021 Emilia Romagna GP to his victory at the 2024 Aragon GP.
Then in 2025 he won the World MotoGP Championship.
It’s NEVER too late to start again. Even though it’s hard.
