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You are here: Home / Misc / Worry vs. Problem-solving

Worry vs. Problem-solving

By Mark Shead 2 Comments

There are some circumstances that you have no power to change.  Worrying about these types of circumstances is pointless.  On the other hand, you shouldn’t give up looking for a solution just because you don’t see an immediate solution.

It is important to be able to differentiate between worry and productive problem-solving. Worry usually has the following characteristics:

  • It involves repeating the same thoughts over and over.
  • Any “solutions” deal with things that you don’t have the power to change.
  • It focuses on changing things that have already happened.

Problem-solving on the other hand has the following characteristics:

  • It doesn’t involve thinking about the same thing over and over again.
  • It produces different solutions, many of which are within your power to execute.
  • It feels positive and like you are accomplishing something, even before a solution is reached.

Originally published on December 20, 2005.

Filed Under: Misc Tagged With: problem-solving, Productivity, Worry

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. TheInfamousGdub says

    October 28, 2008 at 3:41 pm

    Mark, I definitely agree. There’s a test I like to put people through. It’s simple: get lost. Drive somewhere and get lost. See how they handle the situation. If they freak out and panic instead of coming up with a solution (turn around, ask for directions, look at map) then I know they are most likely poor problem-solvers.

    Reply
  2. DanGTD says

    October 30, 2008 at 10:09 am

    Great comparison.
    Definitely, worry is a negative thought process, while problem-solving is a constructive thought process. They are also incompatible, when you worry you can’t think clearly and thus are unable to effectively deal with the problem at hand.

    Reply

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