Roger Harty: Why There Are No Problems In Life

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I FIRST came across this idea in Eckhart Tolle’s bestselling book ‘The Power of Now’ about ten years ago.

To be honest when I first read it I thought it was the most ridiculous statement ever written and that it could not possibly be true as sure everybody has problems in life and to say otherwise made no sense whatsoever.

That, I would say, would be a very normal human reaction and I dare say you the reader of this column may be experiencing a similar reaction.

However in order to give Eckhart Tolle a chance I decided to read on and let the writer explain further.

I found the answer quite fascinating.

He explains that the thinking mind loves problems and in fact if it could it would turn everything into a problem (see previous article here)

However if you change the word ‘problem’ into the word ‘situation’ then amazing things begin to happen.

There are no problems in life there are situations. So should situations in life arise…

• If you can do something about it take action and solve it  (situation solved)

• If you can’t do something about it then you can accept that there is nothing you can do about it for the moment or long-term. (still a situation)

The main point here is with No.2. If you do your best to solve it but you are unable to then there is no point in wasting unnecessary energy. Treat it as a situation not a problem.

The reason for this is that we can learn to accept a situation (energy saved) whereas if we treat it as a problem we continue to think about it (energy wasted)

The very energy that is saved might even grant us the power to come up with a solution.

In its own way the message that is being given above is the very same message that is being delivered in ‘The Serenity Prayer’

God, grant me the serenity to accept the 

 things I cannot change

Courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.  

Reinholt Niebuhr (1892-1971)

The hidden beauty of this prayer is that it allows us the ability to pray for courage and acceptance where required.

• Next week I am going to write about — ‘Is That So?’