The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.
Theodore Isaac Rubin
MEANING OF THIS QUOTE
Problems are part and parcel of life. Letting them dishearten us, or worse still, giving up altogether because of them makes them seem bigger than they actually are. The more we see problems as roadblocks to success, the likelier they are to be so. On the other hand, life becomes a lot easier when you change your perspective and begin viewing hardships as opportunities for growth and learning.
HOW EXACTLY DOES A CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE HELP?
When you regard hardships as an opportunity for growth, you make yourself open to the possibility of thinking out of the box. This mere change in outlook catalyzes change, pushing us out of our comfort zones. And this willingness to broaden your horizons is key to success. On the contrary, people who have a negative attitude toward setbacks keep giving up on their goals. Ultimately, they develop a defeatist mindset and are unable to realize their potential. This is actually a pity, for things could have been much different if not for their negative outlook.
CONCLUSION
Having problems in life is not the problem. If anything, they are a blessing in disguise, for they offer an opportunity for us to learn and grow. The actual problem is expecting life to be a bed of roses, hoping that fulfilling your dreams will be smooth sailing. Such mentality is not only highly unrealistic, but even detrimental to our own interests. That is because without adversity, our character wouldn’t be put to test and we will never really attain the heights we are meant to.
Theodore Isaac Rubin was an American psychiatrist and author. An ex-president of the American Institute for Psychoanalysis, Rubin once said: “The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.”