[Neurons] FW: 2026 Neurons #4 PROBLEM-SOLVING THINKING

[Michael Hall]

From: L. Michael Hall

2026 Neurons #4

January 26, 2026

Problem Solving Expertise #6

                                                                        

PROBLEM-SOLVING THINKING

 

One thing is obvious in terms of developing your expertise in
problem-solving-you have to up your game in how you think and the quality of
your thinking.  That's been implied in all of these articles on
problem-solving.  And no wonder.  Problem-solving is primarily and centrally
a matter of how to think through a problem to its solution.  And the problem
with most of our attempts at solving a problem lies in all of the wrong ways
we use to think about the problem.

 

I discovered this when I first began to think through the actual structure
of a problem and when I came up with the anatomy of a problem.  Just with
that I suddenly realized that the first discernment for problem-solving
rests in distinguish external problems from internal problems.  And with
that realizing that while we call those external conditions and constraints
that exist 'out there' in the world beyond our skin 'problems,' they are
actually only the references of our problems.  That's because what exists
out there, is what exists out there.  It's only a problem if we don't like
it and/or if we think it is blocking us from some goal.

 

That's the first discernment.  The second one is the different between the
problem and how it is expressed in our body as symptoms, primarily emotions,
but also as psychosomatic responses.  Now while emotional symptoms and
psychosomatic symptoms can be very problematic, they are not the problem.
And true enough, it is often highly important to manage those symptoms, and
sometimes before we can get to the problem itself.  This is especially true
of stress and all of the stress symptoms (e.g., fear, anger, guilt, blame,
etc.).

 

Without making this second discernment, many people in 'solving' the
symptoms falsely think that they have solved the problem.  But solving the
symptom only puts a bandaide on that symptom and does not address the cause
of the problem-the thinking.  Why do symptoms get such attention and focus?
Mostly because they are loud, demanding, and inescapable.  You feel them in
your body.  They take up your attention and energy.  They make a lot of
noise!

 

Discerning Internal Problems and External Conditions

 

              The way you think, perceive       How you act and respond

              Mental- emotional                        Physical

              Meaning                                          Cause

              Creativity                                        Innovation

              Takes an instant
Times time

              Intangible, no measures                            Tangible,
measurable

              Triggered by questions                triggered by plans

              Leading                                            Managing

              

 

Beyond those first two discernments is an insight that is central to
effective problem-solving: Problems contain lots of rich information.
Wherever there is a problem, there is a mental construct of a gap between
what you are experiencing today and what you want to experience.  This
current state-desired state gap speaks about your perceptions,
understandings, beliefs, values, intentions, identity and much more.  If you
avoid thinking bad thoughts about problems and instead, embraced and
explored problems, you would discover a lot about yourself.

 

Without that insight, however, lots of people condemn problems, judge them
as bad, spend energy hating them, despising them, etc.  When this continues,
then due to our self-reflexive consciousness, they do something even
worse-they start judging and despising themselves for having the problem.
This doubles the problem, creates new symptoms, and makes them even less
able to solve problem.  The pain and suffering grows exponentially.

 

Problem-solving thinking at its heart involves the meta-probe.  That's
because the thinking that creates the mental blocks (or problems) preventing
us from achieving our goals occurs in levels.  It can occur at the first
level of representation, at the meta-level of editing the movies, at the
meta-level of drawing conclusions (beliefs), and it can occur at the next
level up (beliefs about beliefs) wherein all of the forms of thinking
(values, identity, memories, imagination, decision, intention, etc.), all
specific kinds of beliefs can interact with each other creating complex
constructs.  After that, problems can arise at the unconscious level of
assumptions. 

 

Without the ability to go meta, to distinguish meta-levels, and to think in
terms of meta-states, a person cannot get to the heart of the matter.  Every
problem strategy occurs both horizontally as representational steps and
vertically as meta-level frames that creates classifications and
interpretations.

                                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




 

 

 

 



L. Michael Hall, Ph.D.

Executive Director, ISNS

738 Beaver Lodge

Grand Jct., CO. 81505 USA

meta at acsol.net

 

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