Problems often stay with us when we don't like the solutions. Like a child who doesn't want to go to the doctor to get well, we too, sometimes don't want to take the remedy. But remedies have a great advantage over the problems we've been living with. Even if a remedy is unpleasant (and many are not as unpleasant as we expect), it will only be unpleasant for a short while. The situation will be better if we solve the problem, and new opportunities will happen that can't happen now.

Sometimes the solution isn't even unpleasant but we just have convinced ourselves it won't work and isn't worth trying. If you have been living with a particular problem for a while, but now really wish to solve the problem, then make a commitment that you will begin following advice with faith and giving each solution a fair trial to see if it works for you. As they say, "insanity is trying the same thing and expecting different results." If you haven't gotten results yet, it's time to try something new.

Keeping a journal can help you to solve any of these ticklish problems. For instance if you have problems with sleep, depression, allergies or overeating, keeping a log can help you find which conditions give you a better day or a worse day. Write down advice and suggestions you receive. Choose the one you think will work best and decide ahead of time how long you will try the advice.

Give your solution a fair chance to work. A diet may only require a week to know if it will work for you, but exercise might require a month before you start to see results. Helping your child to enjoy school may take a couple of months of using new techniques before you know if it will work. By keeping a journal you can stay motivated and record your efforts each day. At the end of the period you have chosen, you can decide if you are seeing good results and wish to continue, or if you wish to try another solution. In this way you are likely to resolve even the stickiest of problems.