Life is math.
Depending on how you look at it, it's everywhere. It's all around you.
And I'm not necessarily talking about it from a scientific standpoint. I'd even say that from a faith standpoint, life is math.
So get your calculators ready.
The point is, when life gets hard, you have to learn how to simplify. Just like a math problem.
Now, that process can look drastically different depending on what the problem is.
But we all remember those math problems growing up, right?
You gotta show your work.
There's a reason for that.
When you show your work, you can follow the process. And if you miss a step, you can identify it. You can recognize where something went wrong. You can go back and say, Oh yeah, it's right here.
This was the single point of failure.
This is where I got off track. Where I stepped away from the path.
And the beautiful thing about showing your work is that you don't necessarily have to start all over again. Sometimes you just need to recognize where you made the mistake.
I think life works the same way.
When we're faced with a difficult problem, we have to figure out how to simplify it.
For me, I like to think of it almost like a checklist.
Spiritual. Mental. Physical.
Am I taking care of those things?
Am I leaning on my faith? Am I paying attention to my mental well-being? Am I doing what I need to do physically?
Because sometimes, when those things are in order, what once seemed complicated starts becoming a little clearer.
Maybe you develop tunnel vision and finally see the path in front of you.
Maybe you discover another way around the obstacle.
Or maybe you find a renewed sense of purpose in simply being, and you begin to understand that the challenge is the challenge. The task is the task.
And you still have to overcome it.
Simplifying doesn't mean the problem disappears. It means you begin to understand what you're working with, what needs your attention, and what resources you already have available.
We don't always get the answer right the first time.
But that's why we show our work.
So when life presents you with a problem that seems bigger than you, don't forget to simplify.
Check your steps.
Recognize where you are.
Use what you have.
And remember, sometimes the answer becomes clearer when you stop looking at the entire problem and start working through what's right in front of you.
The resources are available.
Make sure you tap in.
— ILT