Why Problems are Perfect

(2 minute read time)

In the movie The Pursuit of Happyness there is this line where the main character, Chris Gardner says:  “I still remember that moment. They all looked so damn happy to me. Why couldn’t I look like that?”

Haven’t we all looked around and wondered why other people seem so much happier (or better, smarter, nicer, kinder, thinner, prettier) than we are?

I have this friend.  Her house is literally spotless – all the time.  If I were to drop by unannounced, I know her house will be picture perfect.  Seriously, it looks like it is constantly ready for an Open House. I am a pretty neat and organized person but if I compare her gorgeous, perfectly decorated home to mine, it could be easy for me to think I am a slob.  

We see it on social media all the time.  People presenting the best versions of themselves – the happy, cheery, successful version.  We look at them and we compare. We usually come out on the losing side of that comparison.      

We forget that in order for happiness to exist, its counterpart must also exist.  There cannot be happiness without unhappiness. If everything was happy, everything would be the same and we would not even know we were happy.    

As leaders it’s our job to take on challenges, obstacles, make tough decisions.  When these things come up it can be easy to think things have gone terribly wrong.  It can be easy to judge the situation or ourselves harshly.

But, what if we look at our troubles differently?  What if we expected them? What if we accepted them as a natural part of the human experience?  What if we get wind of a “problem” and we just know that being a leader means we get to handle these things?

Allowing and accepting reality opens up our minds to creative solutions.  I have learned it also saves a boatload of time and energy (that old saying “The pain is in the resistance” is real my friends)

Next time you are faced with a less than desirable situation, just know that nothing has gone wrong.  It’s just part of the deal. Perhaps, it’s actually perfect because leadership, and life, is supposed to include these things.  

Perhaps life was never supposed to be spotless.  

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