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Everyday, humans are faced with one form of problems or the other. As a matter of fact, as long as humans still exist in the world, then problems are bound to be created. However, one thing to know is that problems are not meant to be coped with but to be solved. The problem that you do not solve will not only remain but it also has the propensity to multiply. We shall consider vital points to problem solving which can cut across problems within person, in the environment, and the world. Obviously, to solve the problems on the outside, you have to start from the one within.

<center>![traffic-lights-466950__480.webp](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeKWxzTug4jHDfqNnxPDyUuoXNLs7nzNiA9Nwpn6x93Lq/traffic-lights-466950__480.webp)</center>

<center><sub>Image from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/illustrations/traffic-light-problem-analysis-466950)</sub></center>

### 1. Identify the problem that needs to be solved

When you are writing your college dissertation or your project work for example, you will agree with me that one of the fundamental parts of the project is "statement of problem". The truth is that you cannot effectively solve a problem that you do not have a knowledge of. The clarity of the knowledge of the problem is the first step towards solving a particular problem. If you do not tell yourself the truth about what your problem is, you will not know how to solve it. For example, if you failed in an examination, you have to identify why you failed. Did you study enough? Did you skip classes? Did you miss your homework? If you do not tell yourself why what happened happened, it may happen again.

A problem has the proclivity to continue until you have identified and then proffered solution to it. The reason why doctors send patients to lab test or to scan is to determine what the problem is or to know the nature of the problem. It is by knowing this that the doctor can give their medication. More often than not, the solution to a problem lies just within the problem but you need to identify the problem first.

### 2. List some possible solutions

There are many routes to arriving at a destination. In the same way, a problem may have more than one solution, so do not limit yourself when you are generating a possible solution to problems. While at this, you should not be bothered about the viability of the solutions yet. After all, you are only listing them and not yet implementing them. What listing of solutions does is to give you options and increase your buoyancy to solve the problems. More so, this also makes you more creative as you need to unleash your creative acumen in order to make a list of possible solutions.

Do not be too quick to conclude that a solution is impossible or overrule a particular solution. Sometimes, you may be surprised that it is the solution that you least believe in that may become your bailout plan to solve the problems. It is also good to have plan B and other secondary plans so as to have what to fall back on if the primary plan is invalidated.

<center>![puzzle-316638__480.webp](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQma1KZy6VR4he63rabHyJG5Xm5vapxbz4QXcESbAesWoWD/puzzle-316638__480.webp)</center>

<center><sub>Image from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photos/puzzle-connection-hands-cooperation-316638)</sub></center>

### 3. Weigh your options and examine the alternatives

After you have listed the possible solutions that you think will be good to solve the problem, then you have to take them and examine them one after another. It is by examining and weighing the options that you will remove the solutions that are unrealistic, non-logical or undesirable. When you are removing the least preferred solution, you should also place the other remaining ones in order of priority. That is, prioritise the solution that has the most logical approach, while leaving the other ones as backup plans. 

To get to know the potency of a solution, it is worthy to examine their Pros and Cons. If at a point you discover that a potential solution has more disadvantages than advantages, then you should not waste your time on it. Imagine someone using a nuclear weapon to kill a rat. The person may end up killing the rat (mission accomplished) but he will consequently create multiple other problems. So if the end result of a particular solution will be more disadvantageous than the problem itself, then it does not qualify as a viable solution.

***Thanks for reading***

<div class=phishy>Peace on y'all</div>

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