Problem Solved

Believe that problems do have answers, that they can be overcome, and that we can solve them.

~Norman Vincent Peale

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George Dantzig was a doctoral student at University of California, Berkely in 1939.  Having overslept for his statistics class, he walked into class late and noticed two statistical problems on the blackboard.  Unbeknown to him, the problems were open questions ( a problem that can be accurately stated, but has yet to been solved).  The two problems had stumped several of the greatest mathematicians throughout the years.  Dantzig thought that the “homework” problems were a little more difficult than usual, but nonetheless set out to complete the “homework assignment.”  Dantzig completed the “homework assignment and apologized to his professor for taking so to complete the assignment.  A few weeks later, Dantzig was contacted by an overly excited professor who advised Dantzig that he had just solved one of the most famous unsolved problems in field of statistics and that he had prepared Dantzig's solution for publication in a mathematical journal. 

George Dantzig admitted that had he known that the two problems were considered unsolvable problems, he never would have attempted to solve them.  He would have thought that since several “great minds” were unable to solve the problems, why should he try. 

POINT TO PONDER:  Problems do have answers, even one’s that are thought to be open problems (unsolvable).  Relationship problems, work problems, financial problems do have answers.  All problems have answers; you just have to believe there is an answer and go to work on solving it. Dantzig was able to solve a problem that was considered unsolvable because he did not allow negative thinking to dissuade him from trying.  All too often, when we face difficult situations in our life, we allow negative thinking to dictate our outcomes: “it’s too hard,” “it will never work,” or “nothing ever changes.”  This type of thinking only perpetuates the problem.  Plain and simple, we don’t solve many of our problems because we don’t believe we can.  Lacking belief, we develop and adaptive style and allow a problem to plague us until we finally decide do something about it.  Most times, people do nothing about a problem but complain.  Complaining is negative thinking that only manifests itself in maintaining status quo.  I have never heard of a problem being solved by complaining. 

Problems do have answers!  They are solved with positive thinking.  So the next time one of those (unsolvable) problems creep into your life, I want you to remember George Dantzig and how he solved the unsolvable problem.  Dantzig solved the problem because he believed that he could.  When you believe you’re capable of doing something, you’ll find yourself in a world where nothing is unsolvable. 

Problem(s) Solved!

Its your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it
MJD