" T H E R E  I S  N O  P A T H,
T H E  P A T H  I S  M A D E
B Y  W A L K I N G "
Unknown

" W H E N  N O T H I N G
I S  S U R E,
E V E R Y T H I N G
I S
P O S S I B L E "
Margaret Atwood

" I T  I S  A
L I T T L E  S T E P
B E T W E E N  B E I N G
H A P P Y
A N D  B E I N G
D E P R E S S E D "
Issac Bashevis Singer

A "problem" in life implies the need for a solution that is not immediately apparent. There is often an urgency to solve the problem quickly in order to avoid or escape the associated emotional discomfort.

As creatures of habit, we rely on a limited number of options for solving problems based on our past experience. We often approach a new problem from the perspective of these few old solutions rather than from the nature of the problem itself.

What develops is a life pattern in response to problems that is not very successful at resolution no matter how much we pound away at them. Inevitably, we will feel self-defeated and become immobilized. How do we begin mobilize ourselves again?

What is lacking here is resilience. The first requirement of being resilient is to accept emotional discomfort as the normal or natural response to life's challenges (F. Flach - Resilience). We must then recognize that our effort to apply old solutions to new problems is not very imaginative.

We each can accept our self as an "everyday creative person" (E. Maisel - The Creativity Book). No special artistic talent is required. We use our imagination to solve problems by exploring possibilities and opportunities beyond the few limited options we initially considered.

We can then make a commitment to perceiving and acting in new ways (S. McNiff - Trust the Process). As a result we begin to develop the belief that meeting life challenges can lead to life-enhancement, not just survival, that will strengthen our resilient spirit for the future.

The thought that may come to mind is, "I don't know how to do all of that"? That statement reflects a dismissal of our own competency in being imaginative. We, of course, don't know how to do all of that. This is the path of self-discovery. Discovering ourselves is a journey into the unknown and the unfamiliar. We will feel the emotional discomfort of anxiety, of that there is little doubt. Anxiety can be the spice of living life fully.

It is important to acknowledge here the significant role anxiety plays in the options we consider in addressing our problems. Every choice has an associated level of anxiety. Given the discomfort associated with feelings of anxiety, our choice will most often be the one with the least amount of anxiety. Specifically, E. Maisel (Fearless Creating) suggests that the anorexic person experiences more anxiety about eating than about starving so does not eat. We can all identify choices we make based on our discomfort with anxiety.

A response* to the concern about "how to do" could be "what do you know to do"? Grounding or anchoring ourselves in the familiar is a way to manage the anxiety of the unfamiliar that might otherwise result in escape or avoidance actions. S. McNiff says that creation builds on what already exists and what we already do. Addressing the above question is a way to mobilize our selves in the face of a seemingly overwhelming challenge.

The resulting action will be a small step forward into the problem solving process. That step is a statement of commitment, an act of courage, an acknowledgement of our inner wisdom, and an acceptance and potentially an anticipation of the surprises that await us as rewards for fully participating in the process. One movement or step leads us to another on a creative path guided by our internal voice of self-definition (J. Peterson - Anger, Boundaries and Safety).

* I am indebted to Mary Holdgrafer for this response. She has found it to be very effective with her students who experience "creative blocks" in her courses on art and healing.