This week I had a problem! You too? No kidding! Well, as I attempted to dig for solution (and was getting frustrated), two things came to mind., Albert Einstein and Maria Von Trapp! I followed through and in no time I Got It! I Got My Answer! Just Like Bam!! Out of Nowhere!! Want to know how that worked?
1. Albert Einstein! Don’t Laugh! I’m serious! After all, if anyone could solve a problem wouldn’t it be Einstein! Here is Einstein’s brilliance: When faced with a problem, he told us to define the problem specifically and clearly, and ask for a solution. He said to not think about digging for that solution. Let it go and do something you love that allows your mind to play, be creative, to wander, to meander wherever it wants to go. Your mind already knows you are looking for the solution, and it will comply by giving it you, when you stop digging for it and go play. “Play what?”, you say? Einstein, as an amateur musician, would play the violin, play the piano, and the solution would come without his giving it further thought. Sing or play music that uplifts and inspires you through your radio, CD or Alexa! But play and play music! Lighten up! Be creative in what you do after you have defined the problem. The greatest scientists are artists as well," said Albert Einstein. And he also told us that if he had one hour to save the world he would spend fifty-five minutes defining the problem and only five minutes finding the solution. He would go play! So I did!
2. Maria Von Trapp! The next thing that came to mind was the familiar song from the Sound of Music and sing it I did! What a lovely, optimistic lady she was, so full of life and certainly not without problems! But she had a way of finding joy in the moment in her own way! So (with no one to correct my singing) I sang those familiar words! Consider the words and sing that tune (or another that distracts you from searching for your solution) until you get the feeling of what it is like to be bigger and lighter and not swallowed up searching for a solution.
Well I got my answer! Without further thought or consideration or worry or planning or anything else!! In no time the freedom and joy of the music moved me forward quickly!
Got a Problem? No Problem! Take time out to lighten up, have some fun, let yourself be creative, play, play music, sing, dance and then the answer will present itself! In case that tune and those words mean something to you too, here they are. Choose something that delights you!
Then read all the way to the end to find the real problem!
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? from The Sound of Music
She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee Her dress has got a tear She waltzes on her way to Mass And whistles on the stair And underneath her wimple She has curlers in her hair I even heard her singing in the abbey
She's always late for chapel But her penitence is real She's always late for everything Except for every meal I hate to have to say it But I very firmly feel Maria's not an asset to the abbey
I'd like to say a word in her behalf Maria... makes me...laugh
How do you solve a problem like Maria? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? How do you find a word that means Maria? A flibbertigibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her Many a thing she ought to understand But how do you make her stay And listen to all you say How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria? How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
When I'm with her I'm confused Out of focus and bemused And I never know exactly where I am Unpredictable as weather She's as flighty as a feather She's a darling! She's a demon! She's a lamb!
She'd out pester any pest Drive a hornet from its nest She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl She is gentle! She is wild! She's a riddle! She's a child! She's a headache! She's an angel! She's a girl!
How do you solve a problem like Maria? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? How do you find a word that means Maria? A flibbertigibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her Many a thing she ought to understand But how do you make her stay And listen to all you say How do you keep a wave upon the sand
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria? How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
Now here is the real problem! Most people won’t let themselves play until they have solved the problem. Then they have a real problem! What will you do? Let me know!
~ Barbara