Symptoms ≠ Causes [#016]
When faced with a problem, avoid the trap of solving the symptoms.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. — Albert Einstein,
Symptoms are not equal to causes.
Symptoms are the observed negative consequences.
Causes are the reasons why we observe the symptoms.
There can be no symptoms without causes.
Whenever we are faced with a problem in our life, we want to solve it. Regardless of whether it’s a personal or work-related problem. We are problem-solving machines. Whether it’s a conflict you face with one of your loved ones, a difficult business challenge you are attempting to overcome, or even a personal problem you are confronted with over and over again — you want to actively solve problems.
There are two ways you can go about solving any problem.
1) You can battle the symptoms which are infused by the problem.
2) You can solve the cause of the problem, the place where the symptoms originate from.
Admitting the difference between Symptoms and Causes is very easy to grasp, when faced with a problem, the difference all of a sudden becomes much harder to see.
If we deal with problems in our life, we more often than not deal with the consequences and not the problem itself. We are fighting the symptoms but not the cause. And this is an easy trap to fall into. The symptoms never give you long-run relief from a problem. Only eliminating the cause of the problem offers a long-run solution. The catch? Symptoms are easier to solve than causes. In the short-run, we much rather have the immediate gratification of removing the negative pains inflicted by a problem through the removal of symptoms. Addressing the cause is much harder. And we have so many things on our plate already. So why bother? That’s exactly the mistake we do over and over again that leads to continued pain and suffering. We should know better.
Next time you are faced with a problem, try to think of the symptom and the cause. Then, exclusively focus on eliminating the cause of the problem. Because that’s the only way you attain long-term liberation of a problem. Always remember Symptoms ≠ Causes. And you should exclusively focus your energy on the latter.