Erudite Relics of Loc Huu Ho

PROBLEMS! Why can we not get over this for good? And why the heck am I writing about it, have I run out of issues worthy of concern? I guess not. In fact this is the most important issue I must address because most people are making a huge mistake on how they perceive the true nature of problems?

At every waking moments of our life, problems have been a part of our everyday struggles. Some are trifle we attend to it without much effort while some are big we are crushed by it. I find it very ironic how we deal with problems; we eat with it, we sleep with it, we go drunk with it, we go high with it, we curse God with it and we even entertain Hades with it; and yet we’ve never gained understanding of it. You may think I’m crazy, who in their right minds would acknowledge problems?

I do, and allow me to share what I’ve learned.

People, through conditioning, have inadvertently perceive problems as cumbersome package of misery—courtesy of life, or of God, as others come to believe. Our connotation of problem as threat to our complacency has led us to a kind of response that has nothing more than compound our burdens.

Tired of approaching problems the same way, I resolved to dissect it right to its very core (of course I did it in the laboratory of my thoughts). And I discovered two ludicrous things about myself. First, I am the author of most of my problems. Second, my mind has always ascribed problems negatively, and so I react accordingly to this insidious manipulation! In effect I felt disempowered. Still, I need to find out how to deal with it.

Luckily, I’ve gained some insights. My query has given me understanding about the true intention of problems; it became clear that we had totally misinterpreted its real purpose in our everyday existence. I now understand that it is an opportunity to build our character and it carries wisdom about the reality of things. Despite our stubborn mind shouting in contradiction, we need to take its challenge and follow where it wants to leads us: by focusing on the solution it will anchor us on better grounds. Yes, I know I’m being deep, but I want you to understand the lessons behind every problem.

The people who focuses on finding solutions to their problems are lead to the discovery of their true capacities; they uncover great things about themselves they didn’t know they possess, and with such realizations they have added value to their true worth.

On the other hand, those who avoid facing their problems, either by perceived inability, or by blaming, or by playing the victim, or by self-pity, or by any precarious means of denial (it’s amazing how people are creative when avoiding problems and plays dumb when finding solutions) ends up deeper in the mud.  They see problems as curse or punishment, and so they live accordingly: a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The epitome of problem is to enforce change.

Change is a law of life and we humans find it difficult to adopt with change; we always want to be in our familiar grounds. This is the very reason we are having problems with problem; because it nudges us from our comfort zones. Unless we understand this we can never loosen its grip. Instead of focusing all our energies in denial, we might as well give in to the challenge and learn from it. That’s what problems are for. It is for our improvement, it is for our growth, it is for correcting our mistakes, it is for changing us into a much better person.

But man is vulnerable; and I want you to know that I acknowledge this weakness inherent in all of us. I accept that there are problems in life which we consider unreasonable: tragedies, terminal ailments, major failures, relationship breakdowns, pain, death of a loved one, injustices; anything that drains the light out of us.

You’ll ask: How do we handle this? What benefit can I get from difficult situation? Let me tell you the truth, the only thing we will get from a seemingly hopeless problem is the realization that we are more than the problems we suffer. Let us allow our weakness, let our days be blighted, let us feel our anxieties, let our fears intimidate us, let our hopes flicker, let us feel our vulnerabilities. But remember do not drown yourself in misery because it will not make any changes. All will all be the same unless you stand up and embrace your situation. We should not allow ourselves to be defeated. We are not given problems beyond our capabilities. Unless we deal with it, we will never know the wisdom it brings.

Nothing is permanent in this world. Life and death are separated by a thin line. We can never predict what life will bring, and problems will always be certain. What will always count is how we perform in life and how we face the challenges it conveys.

I can never pretend to be strong, and I would rather summon my courage than rely on my strength.

“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.”

- Duke Ellington