A few months ago I shared a quote from Mark Manson’s “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” about taking action to get motivated. Today, I wanted to share another lesson that stuck out to me as I was reading that book: wishing for a life with good problems.
“Don’t hope for a life without problems. […] There’s no such thing. Instead, hope for a life full of good problems.” The concept seemed so obvious when I first read it, but when I really started to think about it, it was like a new idea was just presented to me. Prior to that quote in the book, Manson basically talked about how everyone has problems—some people just have better ones.
While you may envy that happy, carefree person because it seems like they have an easy life and no problems, it’s just an illusion. They do, in fact, have problems just like you. Despite how good or bad a person’s problems are in life, I think what hit home for me is accepting that there will never not be problems—no matter what type of life you’re wishing for.
I found this idea inspiring because it approaches a simple idea from a unique perspective. Makes you really think about what you wish your life was like, and then recognizing that that life you’re dreaming up? It’s got its own problems. It’s not as perfect as your idealistic mind wants it to be.
So, while we can’t completely avoid problems, we can hope and actively work towards a life with good problems, which I view as a balance of three things:
- Coping with the hand you’ve been dealt (i.e., accepting your problems and living your best life despite them)
- Learning how to respond to your problems in a productive way, rather than accepting defeat
- Working towards a life you’re proud of, which has problems that feel worth the struggle
(And silver lining to having some bad problems with the good ones? It makes you stronger, preparing you for any future problems that come your way.)
For me, it comes down to acceptance of my problems, and although some knock me down for a bit, I do my best to be resilient and have faith that life will go on. There’s always something to stress about, so it helps to remember that there’s no better time to be happy.
And that’s the end of my this-is-way-too-real-for-a-Friday blog post. 🙂
