There are two parts to this: The problem and the solution. Which one is the most important? Clearly, the solution. It is important to identify and define the problem and then focus on achieving the solution. What happens if you continue to focus on the problem? It gets bigger. The more you focus on it, the bigger it becomes. The next time you are having a disagreement with someone, ask yourself: Am I focusing on the problem or the solution? Which one are you focusing on when:
You argue?
You feel depressed? You feel sad or upset?
Things are not working out or you fail to get your own way?
You stew (dwell) on things? You worry? You feel frustrated or angry?
You focus on what you don’t have; what you are missing?
You focus on how poor you are – in time and money?
Producing any of these states indicates you are focusing on the problem. For example, a depressed person is simply depressed because they continue to focus on the problem and what is going wrong. The more they focus on it, the worse they feel. If you worry about things, you are focusing on what can go wrong. Abraham sums it up beautifully: “Worrying is using your imagination to create something you don’t want.” If you are time or money poor, you are focusing on what you don’t have instead of what you do have and how you can create more of what you have.
