I believe there are only 3 ways to deal with a problem. We can either (1) do nothing or try to ignore it, (2) attempt to cope, or (3) work on a solution. Depending on the situation any one of these could work, but coping or solving are probably the best choices.

Problems can be ignored, but they often don't go away. If you tend to be lazy, it may not bother you to miss an outing with friends, but the tendency to be lazy could be a major problem when looking for a publisher for your new book. If you opt to ignore a problem, take note if it's stopping you from reaching your goals. Identifying a characteristic that's standing in your way is the first step to changing it.

Attempting to cope with a problem might be the perfect in-between step when you'd actually like to work on an issue but feel overwhelmed by it. For example, let's say you completed a novel. You send it to a bunch of publishers, and everyone rejects it. Initially, you may need to check your feelings. Rejections don't have to mean it's time to give up. Rejections can mean you haven't found the right publisher for your book, or your novel needs work but still has a lot of potential. Taking the time to "cope" can give you the level-head necessary to make the right choices going forward.

The third choice when faced with a problem is to try and solve it. You have your wits about you, and you're ready to do the behaviors necessary to work on it. In the example of not finding a publisher, you've recognized that a rewrite is needed, or maybe you have decided that there are publishers out there that could be a better fit.

Being aware of our difficulties, and thinking about the best way to manage them, can help us cope with a problem. Recognizing these 3 strategies can help us choose the right one when needed. Difficulties that are ignored could hold us back. Managing our feelings could help us choose the right path. And, solving the problem can take us closer to our goals!