Fall In Love with the Solution (?)

Two people working out their solutions in public.

The scriptures, the words of the prophets, the teachings of our leaders and even our personal inspiration from the Holy Ghost are there to both comfort and to challenge us. We need to be challenged to find those areas in our life where we can do better. To find where we can repent. Sometimes it is as simple as finding a better model to think about the world which will help us become more like Christ. Not that adopting any new model is easy, but being challenged is the point.

In my professional life, I have spent the last decade or so asking and teaching my co-workers to "fall in love with the problem." At times it feels like I'm preaching to them. I have worked hard to try to be better at this myself as well, as it is always a struggle. The point of doing this is to remove the tendance that people, including myself, have to move to a solution before they really understand the root cause of the issue. By missing the root cause, the problems usually simply return at a later date. That solution that is quickly found may be something that is tried and true in the past, so it feels comfortable. We all have a preconceived ideas, opinions, and past experiences that can cloud our judgement and slow us down from finding the right solutions. I believe that we should be looking at the issue from all angles and asking opinions of others who are closer to it then we are. It also helps to talk to some who are further away from the issue than we are to insure we see it from different perspectives. Asking "why?" over and over again like a 5 year old child is one of those things I have talked about doing often - even if that drove others crazy. This is all in an attempt to understand the real issue, the root cause, so solutions can be found that address more than mere temporary symptoms.

This process was recently shaken for me a little when I heard Elder Milton Camargo say this, "Unfortunately, too often we concentrate so much on our own problems that we lose focus on the solution, our Savior, Jesus Christ." That kind of hit me in a weird way. Knowing the solution before we really understand the problem?? Was he telling me I should go to the solution immediately? What he was saying seemed to make some obvious sense in faith issues or those more traditionally spiritual, but how does it match with my other “tried and true” model of falling in love with the problem? I felt like maybe I needed to rethink my approach, but I am so attached to the success I have seen with deeply understand the problem. As I mentioned, this is how learning and faith work - we have to be open to challenges to our way of thinking and to who we think we are. This example is one that is as important as others I’ve had in my life, but I wanted to discuss the process of being challenged without pointing out all my personal weaknesses. And to be honest, this one hit me close to home for some reason and really got me thinking.

As I've thought about it, it seems to be a vocabulary issue for me. Maybe my frame of thought needs to change a little. Changing my vocabulary on this may help me. Christ is the solution to all the world’s problems but applying Him in our life and in all situations is not as easy as just saying that. If we wallow in our own problems, we may lose sight of the fact that Christ has paid the price, and given us the path home. But in our professional lives it may need a little nuance. Our job is to fall in love with His solution and return home to our Father in Heaven. Finding His solution in all things should the goal. In my experience His solution always includes love of others, service to others, and giving our will to Him. Applying those principles to any root cause starts to feel right.

The covenants that we make with Christ and our Father in Heaven help to keep our focus in the proper place. Through those covenants we seek to have the influence of the Spirit with us always. As we strive to live worthily we have access to the most clear, loving, and all knowing perspective in the universe to help us solve our problems. Elder Camargo continued this way, "This may mean that we have to change our vocabulary, using kinder words. It could mean replacing spiritually unhealthy habits with new habits that strengthen our relationship with the Lord, such as daily prayer and scripture study, individually and with our family."

Rather than only "falling in love with the problem," I should think about using the guidance of the Holy Ghost to more fully guide me in better understanding where I (or where we) are going wrong. That guidance can then help me work with those around me to fully understand the best solution. A solution that helps others as much, or more, than it helps me. By keeping my covenant promise to "remember Him always", I keep my focus attached to a much more valuable perspective. This does not mean the work of deeply understanding issues, needs or problems goes away. The Lord still expects us to strive and do our best in all we do and to work out our own issues. By falling in love with the solution the atonement of Christ brings, and using that to better understand my challenges, I can keep my focus on Christ and on serving those around me, and not wallow in selfish or temporary problems. The goal has always been to move on from those challenges by finding better ways - or in other words repenting and moving on.