Ignoring Problems and Confronting Them Before They Confront You | The Road Less Traveled

There is a defect in the approach to problem-solving more primitive and more destructive than impatiently inadequate attempts to find instant solutions. ... It is the hope that problems will go away of their own accord. 

"...I guess I thought that if I waited long enough the problem might go away." Problems do not go away. They must be worked through or else they remain, forever a barrier to the growth and development of the spirit.

Until he solved his problem of ignoring problems he would never get beyond step one -- even with all the psychotherapy in the world. 

This inclination to ignore problems is once again a simple manifestation of an unwillingness to delay gratification. Confronting problems is painful. To willingly confront a problem early, before we are forced to confront it by circumstances, means to put aside something pleasant or less painful for something more painful.

We cannot solve life's problems except by solving them.

We must accept responsibility for a problem before we can solve it. ... I can solve a problem only when i say "This is my problem and it's up to me to solve it."

Dr. M. Scott Peck

"The Road Less Traveled"

From Section I, "Discipline，subsections "Problem-Solving and Time" and "Responsibility"

This post is a migration of quotes originally uploaded to the homepage on March 11, 2019. The homepage has since been revamped.