What annoys you? So many things are flooding your brain right now and your blood pressure is probably rising. It’s ok. Choose one for now and then make a list of all the other annoyances later.

This design and creativity exercise taps into the brainstorming compartment of your brain. Warning, lots of synapses will occur between your left and right brain hemispheres. Just allow the magic to unfold regardless if you’re dominant in logistics or creativity. They will balance in this process.

It’s time to think big and work backwards to create your own doable baby steps to create a solution to this annoyance.

By asking and answering questions pertaining to a specific problem, you will be minimizing the grandiosity of this issue. The anxiety will gradually reduce with each answer and the solution will feel more attainable.

Questions to ask/answer:

What is the most frustrating/anger-some/annoying aspect of this (blank)?
Where (geographically) is this a problem?
What change or shift in my daily life can I make to have any impact on changing this annoyance?

Feel free to add more question as necessary to guide you through this process of solution design.

Great job, you just solved a problem, imagine what else you as one little person can do!

*Keep in mind that what annoys you can include interpersonal relationships with coworkers, your partner, friends or family members. The best way to deal with difficult personalities, is to adopt a very difficult zen practice called, “is that so?.” From personal experience, this is a challenge, but once you fully detach from what is annoying you about another person, you will have a beautiful sense of freedom.

Here is the story behind “is that so.”

“A beautiful girl in the village was pregnant. Her angry parents demanded to know who was the father. At first resistant to confess, the anxious and embarrassed girl finally pointed to Hakuin, the Zen master whom everyone previously revered for living such a pure life. When the outraged parents confronted Hakuin with their daughter's accusation, he simply replied "Is that so?"

When the child was born, the parents brought it to the Hakuin, who now was viewed as a pariah by the whole village. They demanded that he take care of the child since it was his responsibility. "Is that so?" Hakuin said calmly as he accepted the child.

For many months he took very good care of the child until the daughter could no longer withstand the lie she had told. She confessed that the real father was a young man in the village whom she had tried to protect. The parents immediately went to Hakuin to see if he would return the baby. With profuse apologies they explained what had happened. "Is that so?" Hakuin said as he handed them the child.”