At the famed Waldorf-Astoria in New York, J.C. Penny, an energetic 95-years old at the time was asked, "You've had plenty of problems in your life. What is your philosophy about problems?"
He answered, "Actually I'm grateful for all my problems. As I overcome each one I became stronger and more able to meet those yet to come. I grew because of my difficulties."
Like J.C. and others who have achieved success, while first facing problems you will need to have a positive attitude towards them to overcome them.
Congratulations, You Have a Problem.
You may ask, "Lori Prokop, how come congratulations?"
When you have a problem, doesn't sympathy seem more in order?
Wonderful results may come from your problem.
People's first reaction to a problem is to feel inferior or inadequate. The mind tends to enlarge the problem, blowing it out of proportion. Then, the problem scares us because our thoughts of fear give the problem a level of power it really does not possess.
Start by cutting your problem down to its true size. Clear out your inner feelings of inadequacy-fear-panic and start thinking with hopefulness. No problem is as forbidding as it seems. When you break a problem down into its component parts, you can handle even big problems manageably. When a problem is in its bits and pieces, it doesn't feel or look so big.
Analyze your problems, break it up into parts and write them down. Then ask for inner guidance as to how to proceed. Start with the easiest part of the problem first and solve it. As you solve parts, you will come to the main core of the problem. By this time, you will feel wonderful and more than adequate enough to solve the rest of the matter.
You will find you are bigger than any problem.
Are the Facts Stopping You?
In my office, I have a sign that says "Lori Prokop, attitudes are more important than facts."
Negative people will say, "Here is a cold, hard fact. A fact is a fact."
Positive people will say, "Yes, here is a fact. There is a way to deal with and overcome this fact. I may need to go over it, under it, around it, through it or hit it straight on. A problem is meant to be solved. I have what it takes to solve it."
The negative person will be defeated by the problem before they even consider how to solve it. A positive person will solve the problem creatively. The outcome created not so much from the facts of the problem as much as your attitude towards the facts and the problem.
Here are three steps to a problem solving outcome:
Lori Prokop Success Step #1
Think, rather than react.
When a problem arises, the tendency is to become angry, resentful or revengeful. Such choices are learned reactions, often picked up in early childhood from parents, teachers and caregivers.
You must learn to be calm and cool. Your mind cannot think, create or solve problems when it is hot. Only a calm, cool mind will produce great solutions. When your mind is working in a non-overheated way, you receive great ideas that solve problems rather than destructive impulses that create more.
Lori Prokop Success Step #2
Become a solution thinker.
After years of hard work, the economy took a turn for the worst and Patrick lost the family business. Instead of being full of resentment, he realized he had more going for him than against him.
"I didn't have anything when I started 30 years ago. Today I have a few thousand dollars. So I am ahead. I started out on my own and today I have a loving wife and children. Thank God. And I have more life experience now."
Within six months of his business loss Patrick started another business which supported his family. At the moment of his greatest problem, Patrick chose to become a solution thinker instead of a problem thinker.
The problem thinker stews over the problem saying resentfully, "If only this would have happened.It's all so and so's fault.If others wouldn't have been so terrible." The world is full of defeated problem thinkers.
The solution thinker moves quickly to looking for the best solution. She asks herself, "How can I use this setback experience to create a great outcome for me and others? How can I create something good from this?"
Lori Prokop Success Step #3
Believe you can and you can.
It is a universal principle. The person who believes they can, can. The person who believes they can't, can't. Expect the best and you will get it or something close. Expect the worst and you will get that instead.
Erase any failure thoughts. Remember "Ask and it shall be given to you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened."
Start out each morning saying "This is going to be the greatest day of my life." If you do not believe in yourself, no one else will.
When a problem strikes, don't fight it and don't complain. Instead, start asking for and looking for solutions. A problem is one of the Universe's greatest methods for teaching you and helping you develop to your full potential.

[ Submitted with ArticleSubmitter Pro - http://www.articlecity.com/article_submitter_pro.shtml ]

About The Author

Lori Prokop is creator of leading edge workshops on creating what you want in your life. While presenting workshops nationwide, she has created more than 300 books, CDs and DVDs. Her internationally acclaimed web site is http://www.howtohealabuse.com Lori Prokop offers systems that answer people's questions about the meaning of their lives, how to create what you want in your life and helps resolve the struggle between good and evil.
media@howtohealabuse.com