Do you have an SOP for problem solving?

feywon

feywon

Well-known Member
Location
Rural North Central NM
My Dad taught me early in life that reading and asking the right questions, knowing where to look, who to ask were crucial to addressing any issue/problem/task. It has served me well. At this age experience has greatly expanded my list of 'resources' (external and internal). Can't tell you how often someone is wrestling with how to do something or what to do about something worrying them--i ask a few questions then give them usually at least 2 or 3 options. To which they respond--"I never thought of that." (This was always most gratifying coming from my sister with the Master's in Psychology while i was still just a HS grad single working Mom on a tight budget. 😆 ;) :LOL: )

Obviously we don't resolve a practical problem, like a broken appliance, the same way we deal with interpersonal 'issues' or major life decisions (Relationships, retirement, relocations, maintaining health)---but there can be some overlap in techniques for finding best way to do anything. So do you have some strategies you rely on? Where, how did you learn them?
This matters because life has a way of throwing curve balls, seems it is always 'something'. I've often said that positive thinking is not about rose-colored glasses, having a Pollyanna POV---it is about building confidence in our ability to resolve issues, problems (big and small--cause those small ones can gang up on you) when they come up.

Be as serious or light hearted in your replies as you feel like being---
 
I'm pretty good at physical/mechanical problems, as I've been dealing with them most of my life, on an almost daily basis. Yet still many things are trial, and error, but this seems to be the way I learn my most important lessons. Interpersonal issues are not as easy for me, but I'm getting better, or so I hear. The gradual de-solving of ego over the years seems to be a major component in this area. It's always good to have a fresh set of eye's on any problem. Sometimes you are looking so hard at something that you miss the obvious.
 
Depends on the problem. If it's a relationship with a long history of issues, I've learned to ask myself, "If we patch this up, then what? Is this someone with whom I really want to invest more time and effort?" Some relationships simply aren't worthy of repeated rescues.

Other kinds of problems? I research, research, research, see what experts have to say, then bounce questions and ideas off people whose level-headed judgements I've come to respect.
 
Geezer Garage said:
I'm pretty good at physical/mechanical problems, as I've been dealing with them most of my life, on an almost daily basis. Yet still many things are trial, and error, but this seems to be the way I learn my most important lessons. Interpersonal issues are not as easy for me, but I'm getting better, or so I hear. The gradual de-solving of ego over the years seems to be a major component in this area. It's always good to have a fresh set of eye's on any problem. Sometimes you are looking so hard at something that you miss the obvious.
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Fresh eyes, sometimes even your own after 'sleeping on it', can be very good. And knowing when to ask for help and who to ask is good.

I know how to do some electrical stuff but am very cautious about how much i will tackle because i am a person who builds up static charges greatly. Changing tires, some plumbing work i tackle, but considering how often i get small shocks just going about my day (and in extra dry weather they are often visible) i'm leery of electricity.
 
StarSong said:
Depends on the problem. If it's a relationship with a long history of issues, I've learned to ask myself, "If we patch this up, then what? Is this someone with whom I really want to invest more time and effort?" Some relationships simply aren't worthy of repeated rescues.
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Man, that's the truth. First of all, if I feel like I have to "rescue" a relationship I already know it isn't gonna work. What I hate more than feeling that is when she says "You know what your problem is?" The minute she says that, forget about it; we're done. Give me some credit - of course I know what my problem is. I know what all my problems are, and I know better than anyone.
StarSong said:
Other kinds of problems? I research, research, research, see what experts have to say, then bounce questions and ideas off people whose level-headed judgements I've come to respect.
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Me too, except the only people I know who are level-headed are my sons and almost anyone with a PhD on the subject. The rest are full of themselves, so you're not going to get anything useful out of them. They need my help.
 
It depends on the issue for me. My goal is just to get through whatever the problem is, knowing that everything has a beginning, a middle and an end. There are two approaches....lumping or splitting. I try to break an issue apart, split it so I can see what needs attention and then tackling that. If I lump everything together, it overwhelms me and the inaction freezes me.
 
feywon asked
Where, how did you learn them?

Mechanical problems. Began with jet engine school in the Navy. Continued with reciprocating engines working with mechanics with that skill. Removing engines meant working with electricians, airframe specialists & hydraulic specialists. After leaving the Navy working for 84 lumber I got part time work with carpenters, plumbers, electricians & welders. Those experiences served me very well my entire life.

Interpersonal problems.

Learned from an old 1st.class recip mechanic that instead of giving up look for the pros & cons in any situation. If one outweighs the other then decide if I had control over what ever it was. Thankfully my life has been without very many problems. So few that I would have to think really long & hard about what they were.
 
I ask myself- “What are the potential consequences of this decision you are thinking of making?
Are you willing to accept the consequences? Can you live with the consequences?”

If the answer is “Yes, I am willing to chance the possible consequences “ then I proceed with decision.

If the answer is “No, I could not accept/live with the possible consequences “ then I search for a different decision.

But sometimes you just have to ‘damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead’.
 
My SOP is OCD, and I'm being serious. I obsess over the problem running cause and solutions thru my brain over and over and over and over. Fortunantly at this point in my life I have encountered and solved so many issues not much phases me any more.

I can honestly say my OCD thinking helped me become successful in life.
 
This was, still is and will always be my SOP for problem solving.


Thanks for watching and if you elect to not say you're welcome I DON'T CARE.
 

Do you have an SOP for problem solving?​


I'm rather anal with problem solving
I'll pencil whip it to death
Drove my wife and kids nuts with it

Now, living at our cabin in the mountains turned me a bit
Not so much problems, but discerning what's coming and how to tackle it
Like preparing for the next winter
It drove me
Because, who's gonna do it if you don't?

Thus......a wood pile of wood piles;

wood.jpg
 
Very thoughtful question and insightful thread my dear friend. I wish I had a thoughtful, insightful answer. I've always had to be the one to tackle things as a single mother for quite sometime, as a devoted only child of an aging, then ailing mother and even as a wife to a (2nd) husband who was really good at some things but so good at others. I think I've just always used the "necessity is the mother of invention" method or gone on instinct as to what to do. As far as problem solving...of an emotional nature, my BFF was instrumental in helping me. I often tell her she saved me lots of money on therapists. :) What's an SOP?
 
officerripley said:
Problems can be solved?!
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:unsure: ;):LOL: Thanks for the laugh.

Seriously, i think most can be addressed in ways that calm the annoyance level attached. But oh, that raises a whole other kind of discussion: One about deciding to address a problem at all. See post #18, @Jules' list of questions. Sometimes it is not actually our problem. That is important to determine.

In my experience the most difficult personal problems (because tackling what's wrong with the world, humanity is overwhelming) are ones that involve other humans. Some of these can be tackled via good lines of communication and being able to at least consider how things look from their perspective. But others--i hear the chorus of the song "The Gambler" in my head, specifically the line:
"..know when to walk away, and know when to run..."
 
Alligatorob said:
No, I am quite accomplished at creating them.
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I've been told the same thing many times.

This was certainly true when I was married, and that marriage ended over thirty five years ago, but I can still remember being told, "You make more work than you do", (maybe as a cleaning fanatic she meant I brought more dust and dirt into the house, than I managed to pick up with the hoover, "every evening when I got in from work", as directed by the then missus under petticoat rule!).
 
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