Stress Management: 9 Universal Laws for Problem Solving

1. The Law of Gifts

Richard Bach, author of "Illusions" says "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in it's hands. We seek problems because we need their gifts." I suggest we seek problems because we need the gift of their solutions.

2. The Law of Quality

Everyone has problems. The only people I know who don't have problems can be found in the graveyard. The goal is to have a better quality of problem. Which problem would you rather have: Figuring out how to pay your bills or figuring out how to manage all the money you are making?

3. The Law of Variety

"If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail." We need a variety of tools, not just one. Use your creativity. Believe you don't have any creativity? Do you ever worry? Then you have creativity. Worry is just creativity used in a negative way.

4. The Law of Einstein

Albert Einstein said, "You can't solve a problem with the same level of thinking that created the problem." This is what is meant by the popular business saying to "think outside the box."

5. The Law of Size

"There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to notice and small enough to solve."

6. The Law of Sean Connery

In the movie "Rising Sun" actor Sean Connery says, "In our country, when there is a problem, we look for someone to blame. In Japan, when there is a problem, they look for solutions."

6. The Law of 5%

Spend only 5% of your energy on talking about the problem, & 95% of your energy on solving the problem.

7. The Law of "And"

When solving problems, many times we get caught in either/or thinking. The problem here is that we are limited to only two choices: this or that. The law of "and" allows us to tap into our creativity & the wealth of other choices available to us. "I can do this & I could do that & I could........

8. The Law of Hope

When we get it that there is no hope in solving a problem, we lose any ability to solve it. Hope can be defined as a confident expectation, a certainty that problems can be solved. Babe Ruth said, "You just can't beat the person who never quits."

9. The Law of Nike (the law of action)

You can read all of the above laws & even post them on your refrigerator. They are just decoration unless you take action and do them. I realize I'm quoting a sneaker company here, you can find it. Nike was right, just do it!

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