Problems and inconveniences both cause stress, discomfort and even pain. So what’s the difference between the two? To me, a problem is something that can only be remedied by changing yourself. An inconvenience can be fixed by changing your environment.
But they aren’t really separate things. Instead, they are two sides to the same coin. For each situation that causes you pain, the inconvenience is the unpleasant part of your surroundings, and the problem is your improper reaction.
Problems often masquerade as inconveniences. Is your boss nit picking your work? Inconvenience. Or maybe you need to handle criticism more constructively. Problem. Is office noise distracting you? Inconvenience. Or maybe you need to improve your focus. Problem.
If your feet hurt, check your shoes for rocks
Every situation that you find upsetting or painful is one that you are reacting poorly to. Ok, not every situation. But it’s a reasonably safe assumption. That said, reacting poorly to a situation does not mean that situation is pleasant or reasonable. If your feet hurt, check your shoes for rocks.
It’s far easier to change your environment than yourself. And better yet, this will often help. So do it often. You’ll go through many poor situations. At times the best course of action will be to move to a better place. Do so. Don’t feel as though you need to stay. Challenges and personal growth can be found in other places too.
But that won’t solve any of your problems.
Given a similar situation, unless you become more than you are now, you’ll react in more or less the same way. And sometimes, you’ll keep running into an inconvenience again and again. When that happens, it’s because your actions are drawing the inconvenience out of your environment, or this type of thing is common.
Either way, you’ll need to look to yourself. You need to handle this differently. Better. Because problems are about you, not your environment. Problems are where your inconveniences rub against a bruise on your ego. They are deep, personal expressions of desire. Once examined, they’ll show you incredible insight into who you are.
Most people want the same things (to admittedly different degrees): money, respect, love. Our fears separate us far more clearly. And problems are the manifestation of our fears. Fear is where reality encroaches on our self image. You overreact because something you hold dear is threatened, your ideas about who you are.
What are your problems? What fears do they depend on?
For me, I get distracted at work, and during longer personal projects. I start to push work away, because I am afraid of failure. I avoid working because that would mean finishing, and finishing would mean that my work would be judged. By others, and worst of all by myself. And I could fail. Because I’m afraid that would mean that I’m not good enough.