Problems can feel overwhelming, especially when we don’t know what to do next. But what if we stopped seeing every problem as a roadblock and started seeing it as something we can work through?
Inspired by Ariana Glantz’s TEDx talk, “Find Problem, Solve Problem,” here are five tools for becoming more solution-minded.
💭 1. MINDSET: Believe There Is a Way Forward
Solution-minded thinking begins with believing that a solution is possible.
Instead of:
❌ “I can’t do this.”
Try:
💗 “I may not know how to do this yet, but I can figure out my next step.”
We don’t need to have the entire answer. We just need to believe there is somewhere to go from here.
📝 2. STRUCTURE: Create a Roadmap
Structure can make a big problem feel smaller.
Break it down:
Problem → Steps → Action → Review
But structure is a guide, not a prison.
Ariana emphasizes creating a framework that works for you and then tweaking it along the way.
🔀 When something doesn’t work, PIVOT.
A pivot doesn’t mean the plan failed. It means we learned something new and are adjusting the plan.
Structure gives us direction. Pivoting keeps us moving.
❓ 3. QUESTIONS: Get Curious
Before trying to fix something, make sure you understand what you’re actually trying to solve.
Ask:
🔎 What is the real problem?
💡 What options do I have?
👥 Who could help me?
🧰 What resources do I already have?
➡️ What is one thing I can do next?
Sometimes the best problem-solving tool isn’t an answer. It’s a better question.
🔁 4. PRACTICE: Build the Skill
Being solution-minded is not something we either have or don’t have.
It is a skill.
Every challenge gives us another opportunity to practice:
Notice → Question → Plan → Try → Learn → Pivot
The more we practice looking for possibilities instead of getting stuck inside the problem, the stronger that skill becomes.
🌱 5. PATIENCE: Give Yourself Time
Not every problem has an immediate solution.
Sometimes we need time to think, experiment, ask for help, make mistakes and try again.
Patience means giving ourselves and other people room to figure things out.
💗 I don’t have to solve everything today. I only need to keep moving forward.
✨ The Big Idea
A problem doesn’t automatically mean STOP.
Sometimes it means:
PAUSE. THINK. QUESTION. TRY. PIVOT. CONTINUE.
Being solution-minded isn’t about always knowing the answer.
It’s about developing confidence that when life changes, we can change our approach too.
🎥 Inspired by Ariana Glantz’s TEDxMemphis talk, Find Problem, Solve Problem.
Watch Ariana Glantz’s TEDx talk on TED
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