Do I need to worry about this?

This question suggests the obvious that not all concerns need a solution.  The follow-on question is, "What are the problems needing solutions?"  This topic is not a new one for me, but it came up again when I was listening to a radio broadcast about 'worry.'  The point of the broadcast was that the things we worry about are mostly not important, will go away, or are out of our realm of our control (which means we can do nothing about it -- like the weather).  The number that surprised me (and gave me comfort as well) was that only 8% of our worries need to be dealt with.  That means a whopping 92% of worry time is wasted energy that could be diverted to some more constructive use!  In this blog, a worry is like a problem.  Do I need to deal with it?

Here is a suggestion.  Whenever there is a problem or concern or worry, ask, "Do I need to deal with this?"   The answer will be Yes, No, or Perhaps (but later).  One of my supervisors once asked me if the problem I was bringing to him was urgent and needed a solution 'right now.'  I said, "No."  Then he said that until the problem becomes one that affects work or performance, just ignore it.  He effectively said that unless the problem was immediate, it doesn't exist.  It was actually a relief when I absorbed what he was saying, i.e., don't address problems until they become one.  While I do not adhere to this fully, there is truth to this approach.  A cautious person may act to anticipate and want to address a potential problem more quickly than a less cautious person.  The point is that we will have enough immediate problems and worries that are real to not need to gather potential problems and worries to ourselves before their time!

If you are helping another person or business, it is cost effective and efficient if you question whether the problem at hand is the real one to tackle.  In this light, I now ask, "Is this the problem you need to solve?"  This questioning will help you eliminate peripheral issues and arrive at the 'real' problem needing a solution.

© Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com

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[Moncler Jacka]

I like ANMJ on FB & just subscribed to the email feed! :)