Choose: Am I Part of the Problem... Or Part of the Solution?

By Danny S. Villanueva
(A copy for the Ihip Newsletter)

With so many different ideas in life we somehow place ourselves into certain position or side to issues that impact us. In most cases, these issues resemble concerns or problems that affect our thinking, decisions, tendencies and actions. Then we become involved directly or indirectly and knowingly or unknowingly. Without really being aware of it, we become either part of the problem or part of the solution on the issue we are involved in.

Do you remember during our school years, we were thought to follow the honor system and not to cheat in any way during written or oral exams. But somehow many took this admonition lightly and somehow cheated several times to pass the grade. Readily the cheaters become part of the problem. Other students who refrained from cheating by studying very hard are considered part of the solution.

How about the duty to pay our taxes? Many used various techniques to cheat and avoid or reduce the taxes they have to pay. Obviously, they are part of the problem. While income earners who follow diligently the proper tax payment are part of the solution. People who used to cheat but now correctly paying taxes are part of the solution too.

Many of us drive vehicles and somehow we tend to look for easier ways to deal with the traffic conditions. This leads us to do tricky minor or major traffic violation that we become part of the problem. The traffic policemen who allowed such violations are part of the problem, too. While drivers who behave well on the road and the traffic officers who do their job well are part of the solution.

There are other various examples we can point out to illustrate our becoming part of a problem or part of the solution- from the home, work and community settings. Areas of concern could cover relationship, health, crime, graft and corruption, politics, religion, sex, moral issues and many others. Evidently, many people are looking at things somewhat wrongly. Such behavioural penchant to violate rules of order makes the situation worse. If we are not helping to reform the world into the place we want our children and loved ones to live, as we are supporting the way it is now, we are part of the problem.

For us to be part of the solution is to create an attitude or behaviour that spells upright disposition which lead us to a decision tree like process of discernment: Do I know what I am concerned about? Is my understanding of the issue accurate or merely an emotional reaction? Is the issue on hand actually my problem? What are my options? What is the possible worst case scenario for implementing or failure to implement what I am concerned about? On the other hand, what is the best case scenario?

Will my actions have immediate and long term positive or negative affects? What are the potential improvement/change would occur whether home, community, or nation wide. Is my solution practical and realistic that can change for the better or is this a hopeless cause? What are the steps involved in implementing my solution?

We need to find opportunities that we do not become part of the problem but become part of the solution in our world of rules, regulations, provisions, laws, etc. that we have to live with. These designed conditions are supposed to help us. Let us help to make them work to the success of the majority of our people.

I believe that anyone of us can help solve the troubles, evils we are in, whether in small or big degree. Let us encourage each other to do our share to oppose, fight and solve the root causes of problems we are in now. So where am I – am I part of the problem or part of the solution? It is our choice – choose.
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