Solving Problems in Your Life Chapter Nine Solving Problems in Your Life

with a dilemma that must be Identifying Problems Problems- Situation with a dilemma that must be solved or worked out. Simple Problems Little Impact Low Impact Harder to Handle High Impact Serious and Critical Problems Social Problems Beyond impact on yourself

Identifying Problems Symptom vs. Problem Approaching Problems Symptom: offer clues to help identify problems – being late to everything Problem: underlying cause of issue – poor time management skills Approaching Problems Procrastination *putting something off* Denial *not facing the fact a problem exists* Positive Approach *feel confident when you have the skills*

Management Process- Setting goals and maintaining planned steps Helps accomplish tasks Channels direction of your life Helps Solve Problems Make Goals Specific Establish time frame Show accountability Write Goals Down Long term Goals: - take several months or years Short term Goals: - don’t take long to achieve, maybe hours to a few weeks

Resources- Whatever you can use to help set goals and solve problems Management Process Resources- Whatever you can use to help set goals and solve problems Types of resources Human resources People who can help you achieve goals Material Resources Physical items, books, money, computers Community Resources Facilities like libraries, schools, senior centers, even prisons

Management Process How to make sound decisions: (Considering possibilities and then takes course of action or makes judgment) Learn to recognize important decisions, spend more time on those Base decisions on values, you have to live with yourself after Avoid impulsive reactions/decisions, rarely turn out well Make your own decisions, don’t let others influence you negatively Make decisions when you are clear headed Base decisions on research and facts

You will have to live with them. **YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN DECISIONS!!** You will have to live with them.

People will respect you more if you take responsibility when you make a mistake. People will NOT respect or trust you if you lie, make excuses or blame others. If you take credit for what you do correctly, be mature enough to take the blame if you make the mistake. Mistakes offer some of life’s best opportunities to learn. 

Thinking skills Take Ethical actions Use reasoning (Thinking logically in order to reach conclusions) Take Ethical actions Ethics- Moral rules of society (What’s the right thing to do; what will happen to you and others???) Values – Does your decision reflect what you hold important to you/your family?

Problem- Solving Process Identify the problem Identify options/ possible course of action Evaluate options/gather information/consider consequences (results of actions) Chose best option Make a plan Carry out plan Evaluate what happened/Study results of your actions

There will always be problems to solve, DO NOT LET PROBLEMS OVERWHELM YOU!! There will always be problems to solve, just learn how to do that and life will flow more smoothly. 