Be Imaginative for there’s No Problem to be Solved

On turning our hopes and dreams into reality

“There is no problem to be solved – only imagination to create.”

A friend and mentor said this over lunch two weeks ago when we discussed the current state of the world, and what we could do as individuals while the ecosystem and many societies crumbled in front of our very eyes.

She continued, “The moment we cast judgement on a person or a situation, we lose sight of the big picture and limit our access to possibilities and also compassion. This creates suffering. The best thing we can do is to stay neutral. Let the world be the world. Take care of yourself and people around you. Serve your community well. Show up unconditionally and make life easier for people around you every day. Don’t create problems. Create a vision.”

In that moment, I could not quite join the dots: What does it mean by there’s no problem to solve? How do we stay neutral when there is so much suffering around the world? Can we really resolve conflicts and chaos through imagination and local actions?

Photo by Providence Doucet on Unsplash

Not long after that conversation, I read a beautiful personal reflection written by David Guys on confronting his fear of public speaking, in which a few of his quotes caught my attention:

“Buddhism, which expresses much faith in experiencing what is happening, taught me that the way to change your karma is not to respond—run when you’re afraid, hit someone when you’re angry—but to feel the feeling without responding. Then it is not passed on. It does no harm.

“In the crucible of my stage fright, I was afforded a superb opportunity to look at fear. These were laboratory conditions. While stage fright certainly doesn’t seem small when it comes up, it is nonetheless a limited fear, and a predictable one. You can observe it without being overwhelmed by it.”

“In time, sitting and watching fear, we see its true emptiness. There are various sensations in the body, some strong, some weak, some painful, some pleasurable. Thoughts also come and go. We take a segment of that experience and call it “fear.” But we’re the ones who label it. We create “fear.” In the body and mind it is just more thoughts and feelings.”

“Being free of fear is not a matter of never feeling it, but of not being flattened when we do. We can feel it and know it is a natural phenomenon, also an impermanent one, which will have its say and be gone.”

Everything in life is a natural – and neutral – phenomenon, arisen from millions of causes and effects emerging and dissolving in a continuum.

A thing, a person, or a situation becomes a part of our experience when we perceive, compare and contrast with what we already know, and assign meaning to it. That same thing, person, or situation can carry different meanings at different times because our perception continues to shift with our ever-changing human experience. Our perception determines our response to everything and how we experience life.

The same applies to our problems.

Nothing is a problem until we label it “a problem”. Then it becomes something negative or unwelcome that the mind interprets as a “threat” to our existence and wellbeing. Immediately and unconsciously, we fixate on the problem and do what we think is the easiest and most logical to overcome it, whether it is through resistance, avoidance, or disassociation, without considering the big picture.

Also, a problem to us is often not a problem to others – because of our different life experiences and perspectives. Many of us tend to spend a lot of time and energy to convince others and try to control what we think is a problem. In situations where we feel our view or effort is not being understood or appreciated, those other people become the problem too. Disappointment, resentment and tension build up within us, pushing our experience (and thus perspective) further into negativity. Everywhere we look, problems are all we can see.

“Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way.” ~ Alan Watts

What if it is true that there is no problem to solve?

What if the reality that we are in now is the perfect outcome in response to all the causes and conditions surrounding it?

What if our so-called problems are the invitation to be curious, courageous, and creative?

Look around the world that we are in right now –

The food that we eat. The clothes that we wear. The house that we live in. The transport that takes us to places. The book that we read. The music that we listen to. The movies that we watch. The smart technology that connects us all. The medicines that treat diseases. The laws that keep societies in order. The government systems that rule countries. The weapons that kill. And so on.

Pablo Picasso once said, “Everything you can imagine is real.” Everything exists today because someone imagined and created it some time ago for the betterment of themselves, loved ones, or communities. Their one idea – small or big – planted seed for many more ideas that continue to change and evolve the world we live in.

Imagination creates reality – consciously and unconsciously.

Our mind is one gigantic memory bank that stores and processes information that we have been collecting since the beginning of humanity: DNA genomes from our ancestors; our own physical and emotional experiences; the people we spend time with; the environment we inhabit in; the societal and cultural narratives. It does not only build us the perfect blueprint for our survival and wellbeing, but also gifts us the ability to dream, think, learn and create.

The key is to become aware of and understand our own mind – through mindfulness practice, play, and trying new things – so we can tap into the power of radical imagination and creativity.

Photo by Kristin Brown on Unsplash

For the past two weeks, whenever I got frustrated by a “problem”, I would pause and ask: Is it really a problem? What do I want to achieve here? How can I make life easier for everyone in this situation?

Instead of focusing on “tackling the problem”, I imagine the outcome I want to see, the energy I want to bring in, and the feeling I want to feel. Moving away from the problem mindset has opened up my mind to consider options that I would not be able to see otherwise and enabled me to pivot with different approaches quickly and flexibly.

I am surprised by how freeing it feels when I stop boxing myself in the problems. What’s more unexpected is that I also feel a boost of energy and confidence within, knowing that I have done my best to create conditions to bring more ease and flow in every situation. Mostly importantly, I am able to achieve the outcomes as intended and envisioned.

Imagination is the portal that takes us to a world of love, joy and hope.

When we let go of our “problems” and start to see situations as they are, it is evident that all humans are one and the same, regardless of our differences. We all need safety, nourishment, and connection. We all want to feel happy, healthy and purposeful. We all thrive when we live in harmony with nature.

When we believe everyone is innately good, it is only natural for us to act beyond self-interest and choose compassion, kindness, respect and integrity for the collective.

When we feel good and trust ourselves in what we do, we radiate positive energy and light up the world around us. When our inner circle and community feel energised and supported, they will share their positive energy with other circles and communities. This creates ripple effects of positive change.

We are living in a very chaotic time now. It is exactly the perfect opportunity to use our imagination, pay attention to the beauty and infinite possibilities amongst conflicts and chaos, and turn our hopes and dreams into reality. Transformation seldom starts with grand gestures, but instead one person, one idea, and many small, incremental steps in one’s own backyard.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~Margaret Mead

(Note: It seems only fitting to listen to John Lennon’s “Imagine” while writing this piece.)