Summary

The web content emphasizes the importance of understanding and problem-solving in life and programming, advocating for clarifying questions, mindfulness, and meditative movement as key strategies.

Abstract

The article "Problem Solving Life Skills" discusses the significance of problem-solving skills beyond programming, highlighting the essential step of understanding the problem before attempting to solve it. The author, Ari Joury, PhD, is referenced for his advice on spending time to comprehend issues and find high-level solutions. The article stresses the value of asking clarifying questions to ensure effective communication, challenging the misconception that question-asking signifies a lack of understanding. It also explores the benefits of mindfulness and meditative movement, citing sources like Headspace and Harvard, to enhance mental clarity and problem-solving abilities. The author suggests that intuition, supported by activities like exercise and discussion, is crucial for developing these skills. The piece concludes with a call to action for readers to engage with the content and support the writer.

Opinions

Asking clarifying questions is crucial to avoid misunderstandings and is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Effective communication is vital, as people can interpret the same language differently, leading to unnecessary confusion.
Entering a meditative state can lead to a flow of questions and answers, fostering creativity and understanding.
Movement, especially when meditative, can significantly benefit mental health and problem-solving.
Intuition is a powerful tool in problem-solving and should be embraced, aided by activities that promote mental clarity.
Practice is key to improving problem-solving skills, with consistent effort leading to better performance.
Engaging with articles by commenting, highlighting, and clapping supports writers and contributes to the visibility of their work.

Problem Solving Life Skills

What is the most important step?

In the article Forget about algorithms and models — Learn how to solve problems first author Ari Joury, PhD makes some really great points that I think apply to more than just his article about programming.

After quoting Abraham Lincoln “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe” he later states “spending time understanding the problem and finding high-level solutions before starting”.

I feel this is excellent advice for life in general!

Being able to problem solve involves not only being able to look at the whole picture as well as the minute details, but first taking our time to make sure we understand the problem or question at hand; which, is the first step in his process and one I whole-heartedly agree with!

I would add that asking Clarifying Questions is of Particular Importance.

Making sure we are communicating effectively is making sure we truly understand one another. It does not help anyone if we just assume we understand one another. My husband have spent hours, no joke, trying to understand one another just to find out we were saying nearly the exact same thing just in different ways — we can ‘speak different languages while speaking the same language’, it’s all in how we communicate and how we interpret/understand, so it is IMPERATIVE to try and make absolutely sure you are on the same page!

I have had my fair share of people thinking this is a weakness and assuming I am stupid, but then it was a good thing I asked those clarifying questions because we didn’t actually understand one another, and it usually helped others better understand as well — I have actually been thanked for this habit by people who didn’t feel safe or confident to ask themselves.

DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE THAT BECAUSE SOMEONE IS ASKING QUESTIONS THEY ARE STUPID — You might be the one who is ‘stupid’ so to speak, because you are jumping to conclusions and becoming frustrated. Better that someone asks and does something correctly than waste his/her and your time assuming they understand what you want/need…

Asking clarifying questions are not the only important questions, which Ari also mentions. Asking deeper questions about a problem, trying to better understand it and look at different angles/perspectives can open-up our creativity, understanding, and perhaps alter our approach.

In my recent article, Mindfulness at Work: How can Meditative states help your work?, I speak about shifting gears, or frame of mind, by entering into a meditative state and allowing for the answers to find you.

According to Headspace, and app for mindfulness and meditation, described this state of mind as “a state of concentrated calm or serene attention”, which is what I was trying to explain in my previous article but I think they describe it perfectly as serene attention.

Entering this state of serene concentration can allow for questions and answers to flow seamlessly one after the other, tumbling in like waves upon the sand creating a smooth surface to walk freely and observe what the ocean has brought into shore.

In relation to my previous article and my upcoming articles (already schedule to be published), another great problem solving tactic is bringing in movement, specifically meditative movement.

As this Harvard article, How simply moving benefits your mental health, states “…the way you move can also affect the way you think and feel. … looking at the situation from another angle, movement can come to the rescue. By working out, going on a meditative walk by yourself, or going for a synchronized walk with someone, you may gain access to a “back door” to the mental changes that you desire without having to “psych yourself” into feeling better.”

I would go a step further and argue that exercise, meditative movement, and/or movement therapy not only is a great mood booster, but also a great stimulant for problem solving. I don’t know about you, but I find that when I stop focusing so hard on a problem, that is when ideas start flying and my intuition kicks in. Even better, walking and discussing with someone you trust — usually gets my think outside the box problem solving and creative juicing flowing.

Above all though, I would say leaning into your intuition is by far, the best step you can take and any means (within reason) to help you achieve that state of mind/clarity/serene attention such as exercise, music, questions, companionship, etc. the better life and problem solving skills you will have overall. Also, practice. As with most things in life, practice often begets improvement and experience.

With Love, Light, and Blessings ❤

Your Idealistic HolisticNerd ~ ❤ Mind ❤ Body ❤ Spirit/Soul ❤ ~

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