Dyk #1: How to overcome a problem

Did you know…

That to overcome a problem, contrasting is the most effective technique to succeed?

Don’t indulge by thinking only about the positive vision of the problem solved. Don’t dwell on the negative aspects of the unsolved problem. What you should do is contrast: first think about the positive vision of the problem solved, then think of the negative aspects of the unsolved problem. Then compare your fantasy with reality.

If you do that, you’ll be most successful in overcoming problems. However, make sure your expectations of success are high, because if your expectations of achieving your goal are low, you’ll make fewer plans to solve the problem and take less responsibility.

Don’t make it an unachievable goal, either, because if it is, you’ll be more likely to just let go of it.

Note that contrasting is very hard for us humans – we tend to prefer to either dwell or indulge. We tend to avoid anything that might point out inconsistencies to us by contorting reality.

(This was proven through research by Oettingen et al., 2001).

How do you overcome every day problems? Do you dwell on the negative or indulge in the positive? Or do you already contrast?