Despite our backgrounds, race, qualifications and nationalities, we all face different kinds of problems that may weaken our resolve, drain our energy and threaten the accomplishment of our goals.

However, regardless of the kind and magnitude of the problems that you may face from time to time, it is important to understand that where there is a problem, there is always a solution.

Right now, as you read this, you may be going through an overwhelming situation but I must tell you that you are in that situation because you are part of the chosen few who are designed to come up with a proven solution to your problem.

Based on my own experiences, observation, research and interaction with other people, I have come to understand that for every problem there is always a solution even in those situations that we may think we are doomed or have hit the end.

As such, it’s important to understand that whatever you may have considered to be the end of the road because of pain and desperation may quite often be a sign of new beginnings and thus you must not be easily shaken by tough situations which will never last forever.

All what is needed is for you to remain resilient, stay focused, strategize and then take informed action, with hope and faith being your cheerleaders even in the worst of circumstances.

I am going to share with you some pointers or guidelines that can help you to navigate through difficult circumstances without losing your sense of worthy and then later on, I will explain these steps in detail using examples.

Step 1: Recognize, realize or accept that there is a problem.

Step 2: Identify the problem or critically analyze its nature.

Step 3: Come up with possible solutions and evaluate them.

Step 4: Take action, take a leap of faith, and take a risk.

In order you to clearly understand these steps and guidelines, I will use the story of lepers in the Bible as our case study.

2 Kings 7vs.3-4 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, we will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

From the scripture above, we see four men who are engulfed in a do or die situation.

If we break down the above scripture, we can see the following critical points: a) they had leprosy, b) they were the outcasts, meaning they lived outside the city, c) there was famine in the city and d) the enemy had surrounded the city.

Now, let us use the four steps of problem solving mentioned earlier on to see how the leprous men faced their problems head-on so that we can also apply the same principle where necessary towards our own victory and success stories.

Step 1: Recognize, realize or accept that there is a problem. We see the four lepers recognizing and accepting that there was a problem. One of the most effective ways to recognize a problem is to introspect, that is to dig deep within yourself. You must never be in self-denial in life but you must learn to have tough conversations with yourself regarding what is going on in your life just like what the leprous men did. It is in these deep conversations with ourselves where we find real life and long lasting solutions.

Step 2: Identify the problem or critically analyze its nature. The lepers realized they had leprosy. They knew they were the outcasts and that there was famine in the city plus the enemy was surrounding the same city. Identifying a problem will help you come up with possible solutions.

Step 3: Come up with possible solutions and evaluate them. The four lepers had possible solutions to their situation. Most of the time the solutions we may come up with requires taking risks. In the case of these four lepers, their solutions were; a) to sit in their condition and die, b) to go back to the city where there was famine and die or c) to go to the camp of the enemy and possibly die. A solution with two possible outcomes is always worth considering.

Step 4: Take action, take a leap of faith, and take a risk. The biggest risk in life is the unwillingness to take any risk. Having a list of solutions, the four lepers made a decision and begun to take action as they walked towards the camp of the enemy even though there were some risks associated with their chosen option.

Remember they took a solution with two possible outcomes, a positive and a negative one, but they were always focusing on the positive outcome. As they begin to take a step of faith, God came through and saved them. What they did also brought great deliverance to the whole city.

Shelton Vengesai is a Motivational speaker, Personal Development Coach, Aviator and Entrepreneur based in Frisco, Texas, United States of America.

Follow him on Instagram: @captain_eagle_shelton

“A rare ability to see the good and the bad in everyone and making use of the good in a way that overshadows the bad makes you a good leader.”- Brian Kazungu

Management generally means the planning, organizing, leading, directing, coordinating and controlling of resources in an environment for the common good of a given setting.

Everybody on earth is a leader and a manager of his own personal life and destiny. 

As such, because you are a leader, you should therefore possess a rare ability of objectively recognizing the positives and negatives of others in any setting. 

You must note that every person has got his or her own strengths and weaknesses.

It is the strengths of every individual that must be emphasized and be promoted so that the combined effect of the strengths of everybody in society can be felt. 

Analyze the extremes and assess whether using and emphasizing on the good side of an individual can outweigh their bad side for the good of the person and the society as whole.

This principle can be used in choosing friends, business partners and even in managing or leading a group.

When the exposure of wrong is not malicious, there must also be an attempt to also highlight the good side of others as well.

Sometimes more of the wrong side of an individual is seen when society does not set itself to appreciate the positive side of others. 

Celebrating and promoting the strengths of others than just looking at their weaknesses has got an automatic ripple effect towards creating a stable and progressive society.

It is therefore necessary for you as a leader to possess this open-mindedness for the good of your life, the company/organisation, the community and even for the good of the state.a) Is there anyone that you believe is managing his or her personal life in a good way? What is that person doing and how is he/she doing that?b) Is there anyone you believe is a good manager or leader? Why do you think of this person in such a way?

b) Have you ever tried to appreciate that individual’s goodness in person? Please do that if you can!

c) Pray for the person so that he or she can keep up the good work.

1Timothy 2:1-2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. KJV

Brian Kazungu is a Christian, Media Practitioner, Author, Poet, Technology Enthusiast, Entrepreneur and an Opinion Leader.

Monday Motivation is adapted from his motivational and inspirational book titled Fresh Thinking(https://www.amazon.com/dp/1654359335).

For more of his writings and motivation, follow him on:

https://www.amazon.com/author/briankazungu

https://muckrack.com/brian-kazungu

@BKazungu-Twitter