The
tagline of Quickfix adhesive in the 1970s was “Joins everything except broken
hearts”. At about the same time, a
therapeutic process known as Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) was gaining
ground in psychology. It sought to help people arrive at quick solutions to
psychological problems since everyone was too busy to go digging into the past
and thus arrive at radical solutions.
The
advocates of SFBT argue that it is not necessary to know the cause of a problem
to solve it and that there is no necessary relationship between the causes of
problems and their solutions. The
problem is not what matters, but the solution.
Searching for the “right” solution is as futile as seeking to know and
understand the problem. What is
important is to know your goals, what you want to accomplish, rather than
diagnosis of the problem and its history.
The
fundamental assumption of SFBT is that people are healthy and competent and
have the ability to construct solutions that can enhance their lives. Each one of us has the ability to resolve the
challenges that life inevitably throws on our path. But at times we lose our sense of direction
or awareness of our competencies. We
become negative in our orientation as we focus on the problem more and
more.
What
if we started focusing on solutions? On
the goals that we wish to achieve? This
is exactly what SFBT tries to accomplish.
It asks us to focus on what is working in our life. Nine things out of ten may not be
working. Catch the tenth one that is
working. It is important to concentrate
on small, realistic, achievable things.
Such things lead to big changes eventually. Success tends to build upon itself. Modest goals are the thresholds of great
changes.
SFBT
suggests the following simple strategies while dealing with your problem(s).
1. State
your goals positively in your own words.
2. Define
your goals clearly. Make sure they are
action-oriented. No abstract, sublime
goals, please.
3. The
goals should be structured in the here and now.
Don’t make five-year plans.
4.
The goals should be attainable,
concrete and specific.
Here
are some strategies that may help in focusing on solutions rather than problems.
1. Look at exceptions:
You had expected the problem to occur but somehow it did not. What was different? Can that difference lead you to a
solution? At any rate, the exceptions
remind you that problems are not all-powerful.
You’ve beaten them sometimes at least.
2. Ask the Miracle Question: “If
a miracle happened and the problem was solved overnight, how would you know it
was solved, and what would be different?”
If you can visualise what would be different, you can also work towards
it. In fact, viewing the problem from
the solution-angle is already halfway to the solution.
SFBT may not
work in the case of broken hearts with deep wounds. But it can work miracles with most problems
of day-to-day life.
hmmmm look like helpful:-)
ReplyDeleteYou don't sound very convinced, Aparna. Quickfix solutions have their disadvantages, no doubt. But the advantages outweigh them.
Deleteaptly said.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jac
DeleteI don't have time to sit and eat a breakfast slowly and peacefully and so i agree that What happened in the past or the route of the problem is not that vital, the solution is. Every thing has the other side or another dimension but focusing on the solution seems more logical and practical.
ReplyDeleteYes, Athena, quite a lot of problems can be solved that way. Of course, there are problems which need more radical solutions. My next story, The Devil, is going to be about one such problem.
DeleteI am realistic..I believe in miracles..:)
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I love that comment, Preethi, and thanks a tonne for it.
DeleteFor me genesis of the problem too is important-it points to the remedial measures which should be taken.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on the problem as well as the individual who is facing the problem, Indu.
DeleteMost of the times, going back to history only gives more money to the counsellor.
I believe in miracles and I love them... two thumbs ups ^_^
ReplyDeleteMiracles happen everyday, Namrota. Good you believe in them because what you believe is what will happen to you eventually.
Delete