A monkey is on one side of a wrought-iron fence. A large bunch of bananas is on the other side just beyond the monkey’s grasp. The monkey reaches through the fence repeatedly, trying to secure the bananas but fails every time.  Eventually the monkey starves.

Whether or not this story is true, it is useful.  The monkey could easily have climbed over the fence and enjoyed a banquet.

We are sometimes like the monkey, attached to a solution that is obvious, simple, and useless.

Years ago, I learned an important lesson from the book The Road Less Traveled, and that is to take my time in solving a problem.  To this day, I think through possible solutions.  The beat poet Alan Ginsberg wrote, “First thought, best thought.”  This may be true in writing a poem, but not necessarily in reaching a bunch of bananas.

On the TV quiz show Million Dollar Pyramid a contestant who was stuck had the opportunity to call a friend.  That’s still a good idea.  None of us has a monopoly on ideas, and I’ve found that my co-workers, children, and friends often find an excellent solution never would have occurred to me.

Life is like a quiz show, with new questions to be answered every day.

So, if you’ve been reaching through the fence without success. Maybe it’s time to slow down and rethink the solution.

Take your time, reflect, ask for help if you need it, and you’ll find answers that are effective, rather than obvious.

Alan

When the pandemic was just beginning, I tripped and fell on the street behind my office. It was at a time when many had already begun to keep physically distant from others to prevent the spread of the scary new coronavirus.

Two men engaged in conversation saw me fall and immediately rushed over.

“Are you hurt?” one asked.

“Can we help?” the other added.

“I don’t think I’m hurt,” I said.  They each took one of my hands and helped me up.

“Thanks,” I said, brushing the dust off my pants. Earlier this year one of my employees had fallen on the same street, spraining one wrist and breaking the other.  I was relieved to have avoided a similar fate.

The two men stayed to make sure I was okay.  After I again assured them I was fine, they nodded, gave me a “thumbs-up,” and left.

I was then, and I still am, grateful.  Kindness seems to be in shorter supply today than it was before the pandemic overran the world, perhaps because of our additional concerns. I must admit, the added stress in my own life has made it more difficult for me to be consistently pleasant, even though I know it’s more important than ever.

But isn’t the true test of character what you do when your own life is difficult?  Do you snarl, lash out, and blame others?  Or do you focus on the positive and actively express your empathy and support?

There are many times in our lives when we need help.  We most often turn to friends and family, but it’s reassuring to know that even in stressful times we can still rely on the kindness of strangers.

Alan

I loved the TV show “I Dream of Jeannie,” which ran from 1965 through 1970.  I imagined Jeannie popping out of her bottle and granting my fondest wish. Ten years ago I was a speaker at an event where Barbara Eden (who played Jeannie), also appeared.  In the TV series she was a 2,000-year-old genie.  When I met her in real life she was in her seventies and, while still glamorous, she wasn’t granting any more wishes.

In my business I solve problems. I used to wish that a genie would appear and solve them for me.  Alas, no genie has yet materialized, so as a more realistic alternative I practice keeping my genie of fear contained inside my emotional bottle, and I leave that bottle at the office.

In other words, I don’t take my business home with me.  But the rules I follow are useful even outside of a business context.

1. Don’t waste time and emotion worrying about a problem that you can’t do anything about. You will feel worse, and the problem will likely run its course anyway.
2. If you can solve the problem, go for it. I always feel better when I’m actively working on a solution. But give yourself permission to leave it at the office or take a break. Research suggests stepping away for a time can help you find a solution.  (People Tool of “Stuff it in your Sub.”)
3. Remember to remain positive and be thankful for the gift of every new challenge. After all, life is full of tests, and working to find an answer can be both stimulating and rewarding. Daveen, for example, likes crossword puzzles.
4. When you aren’t working to solve the problem that is troubling you, let it go. Pretend it doesn’t exist.  When it pops into your head anyway, and it will, just note, “Aha, you are visiting me again.”  Then distract yourself by thinking of something else.  Something pleasant. Something you look forward to.
5. All of this takes practice, so I encourage you to keep training yourself to put these ideas into action.
6. Finally, cultivate a Zen-like approach. Always keep in mind, “This too shall pass.”

The Declaration of Independence declares as a fundamental right the pursuit of happiness.  To me this means that we have the right to live in a way that makes us happy.  Don’t we encourage our children to do exactly that?

But what about the fantasy that our lives should always be easy?  Keep that genie in her bottle.  And enjoy today in the real world.

Alan