A problem well-defined is half solved.
Unfortunately, we don’t spend enough time identifying what our problems are, and more importantly, how we can begin to solve them.
The problem is that avoidance of recognizing the problem and that you could potentially find a solution for it.
The avoidance of the difficult, uncomfortable conversations you have to have with others and yourself during times of crisis, and again more importantly during times of noncrisis.
Throughout my life, I’ve had a problem of having many friends where I’m simply not having tough or intellectually stimulating conversations with.
We end up talking about the NBA or worse, other people, the entire time.
Not to say that’s not important, it absolutely is.
But with everything else, it’s about moderation.
Once in a while, hopefully more than once in a while, you got to have the convos with your friends or family that are about the important things.
Not just the meaning of life, I mean about what our work is and what it means to us.
Where our passion or sense of meaning comes from.
Where we choose to live and who we choose to live with.
All of these decisions have outsized impacts on our life, and should be thought through for years, preferably with the people you love such as family or friends.
When we get stuck in the day to day, we can end up talking about the same things that don’t change such as the hot new movie or the amazing new TV series, instead of things that are a bit more important to our lives.
Have the fun in your life yes, but make sure to leave time for the important conversations.
The ones that will define your life.
In my experience, these conservations are also rich with insight and force change, which means you’re likely to remember them fondly over time as well.