Why We Should Never Lose

“…when faced with a situation, we start out with some guess.” (Polya 158)

This is what the pioneer of problem-solving methods and the author of How to solve it had to say about our problems. If a man of such reasoning capabilities thought that guessing is indispensable to the solution of problems, then we ought to feel confident enough to try and solve our own problems in our own individual ways.

When my father died putting my education in jeopardy, I was left guessing too about the future course of my life. Our family was debt-ridden, my elder brother’s marriage was about to end, and we didn’t have enough income to support the all of us as well as my education. It became increasingly difficult to delve on things other than monetary.

In retrospect, I found that the shift of mental energy from non-monetary to monetary assisted my mind to think about things that were less painful. I also discovered that a particular situation always comes in a package containing its resolution. No wonder that it was much easier to deal with scarcity of resources than the loss of my father, and to cut down on my expensive whims than suffering the grief of my mother.

Most of us, indeed, are not familiar with the systematic problem-solving techniques. But we do solve most of our problems, not necessarily with a systematic approach, but by hit and trial which is not much different from the way a mathematician works. “Mathematical facts are first guessed and then proved…” (Polya 160).

Only thing is to persevere, and to know that everyone in this world – rich or poor, male or female, white or black – has her/his share of problems to solve.

Finally, what is a problem? Most often, the problem is in our perception. If you live in a posh locality, and you are finding it hard to match their standard of living, you perceive it as a problem. Lack of societal activities necessitated by financial constraints may be perceived by others (and yourself) as a problem. It may more aptly be called a situation that will resolve itself with time. It is all about the way you think.

First, others don’t often care about us. Second, even if they do, you shouldn’t care about them. They have no right to stay in your mind (and mostly they aren’t even interested).

By little adjustments, you can easily change the situations that give you a perception of a problem. Sometimes, trying to stick to a place, a person, a state of mind, or a conclusion which the situation does not warrant results in our failure to resolve it. At my school, I had classmates who were more prosperous than me. Their ostentation did affect my self-esteem, and realizing it, I shifted to another with humbler population after high school. The move helped me monetarily as well.

Recognition of a situation, not denial, is the first step towards its resolution. And never forget that time is the greatest problem-solver; no problem stands the test of time.