Here are 7 possible solutions to a problem you are currently experiencing…

1. Accept it
2. Ignore it
3. Get the hell out of it
4. Look for the lesson in it and learn from it
5. Decide to create something better and get on with it!

Oops. I forgot one which is blatantly obvious. Did you spot it? 

6. Solve it! Deal with it! Kick its a$$! Obliterate it!

Here’s another one:  

7. Get around it. Out manoeuvre it. Rise above it. Get past it. Go under or over it. Get out of it’s way. Move on from it. Leave it in your rear view mirror and in your dust. Because success is the best revenge!

I originally posted the first 5 components of this answer on a LinkedIn post by Anthony Robbins. It’s taken me a while to add the next two (6. & 7.).

There could also be an option 8, which is really a no go. Something like:

8a. Don’t do anything and let things get steadily worse and make you feel even more terrible. And just keep letting it happen…

OR…

8b. Do something which makes things steadily worse and makes you feel even more terrible. And just keep doing it.

But there are other sources of Problem Solving wisdom you can refer to:

1) Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap and advocate for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (or the word “Act” as it is known), with the “Resilience Formula”, and

2) Marsha Linehan the founder of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), as explained at Psychology Today by Karyn Hall.

[1] The Resilience Formula [ACT]
4 approaches to any problem situation:

1. Leave [or change the situation]
2. Stay & change what can be changed
3. Stay & accept what can’t be changed & live by your values
4. Stay & give up & do stuff that makes it worse
(Harris, 2013)

See Slide 33 at the link above.

[2] Four Possible Responses to Any Problem [DBT]

1. Solve the problem
2. Change your emotional reaction to the situation
3. Radically accept the situation
4. Stay miserable!
(Linehan, 2015)

I have found these gems quite similar, and both set out 4 clear choices, some notably better than others.

Hint: First, steer away from Option 4. That leaves 3 options, depending on difficulty. I suggest you attempt these in the order given, 1. 2. and then finally 3. Don’t be tempted to action option 4. It might be easy in the moment to go there, but you don’t want to stay there, believe me!

Circle back to the first three options, and see which one is most appropriate, helpful and effective for your given circumstances.