A few years ago, I was reading Do the Work! by Stephen Pressfield. It’s a wonderful little book about dealing with the feeling of resistance that naturally arises when we are struggling to complete creative projects. In it, I came across the most profound piece of wisdom I have ever read:
“The problem is not you. The problem is the problem. It’s hard because it’s hard. The solution is mechanical. Work the problem.”
This applies to far more than just creative pursuits. The “problem” might refer to your tendency to procrastinate, a bad habit you want to quit, a healthy behavior you’re avoiding, a puzzle you’re trying to solve, an interpersonal problem at work, or even an actual math problem. Indeed, it applies to nearly every challenge we face in life, and it has become one of the cornerstones of my personal philosophy.
Let’s unpack it.
“The problem is not you.”
The fact that something is challenging is not a sign that something is wrong with you. You are not the problem. Your unique personality, brain, and genes are not the reason it’s difficult.
“The problem is the problem.”
The challenge you’re facing is an entity separate from yourself. It is the problem. It is the source of the difficulty. You may feel entangled with the problem, but once you solve it, that will pass. The problem will be gone, and you will still be here, free of it.
“It’s hard because it’s hard.”
The struggle you’re experiencing is due to the fact that you’re confronting a genuinely difficult challenge. Difficulty is normal. Many things in life are hard, and, despite how it may seem, they’re also hard for other people. The problem you’re facing isn’t difficult because of your personal inadequacies; it’s just plain difficult.
“The solution is mechanical.”
There is a way to solve this problem, and it involves the application of tools and tactics rather than brute-force willpower or raw intellect. Be strategic. And you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Odds are, your problem is very similar to one faced by countless other people. Someone else has already worked out the solution. Learn from their methods.
“Work the problem.”
Knowing what to do to solve the problem isn’t enough. You have to actually do the work of solving it (hence the title of Pressfield’s book). Steadily and faithfully apply the techniques that have been shown to be effective, and you will eventually overcome the problem. There is no magic pill or special secret that will instantly solve the problem. You have to be methodical and patient. The mechanical solution is likely to be a step-by-step process. You have to take those steps. You have to work the problem.
The next time you are beset by a frustrating, seemingly impossible problem, remember Pressfield’s wise words:
“The problem is not you.
The problem is the problem.
It’s hard because it’s hard.
The solution is mechanical.
Work the problem.”