Choose Your Problems

As we know, life guarantees us one thing: problems. Some come dressed as responsibilities, others as heartbreaks or uncertainties. Even Jesus acknowledged this truth when he said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV.  Troubles are the tax we pay for being alive, yet we often operate under the illusion that "peace" is a destination where problems cease to exist. We may not be able to choose a life free of struggle, but we can surely choose the quality of the struggles we engage with. In truth, the highest form of agency we possess is the freedom to choose which set of problems we are willing to carry.

Practically speaking, this means graduating from "survival problems" to "success problems." Consider this: There is a profound difference between the stress of wondering how to pay for a basic meal and the stress of managing a complex investment portfolio. I’d rather suffer body pains and aches than be paralyzed or handicapped; I would rather have to wait and face the high-stakes anxiety of a massive business deal than the agonizing monotony of a paycheck-to-paycheck existence in a job I despise. This isn’t about glamorizing hardship. It’s about realizing that every version of life–whether privileged or modest—comes with its own brand of suffering. The question is not if we will struggle, but what kind of struggle aligns with who we are becoming.

This framework requires a radical shift in perspective, one that sharpens our sense of gratitude. It is human nature to bemoan our current circumstances, yet we often forget that our "burdens" are another person’s "blessings." What seems unbearable to one person might be another’s dream scenario. The problems that frustrate us today–the client who takes days to respond, the body that’s tired from the gym, the stress of personal goals—are, in another light, blessings disguised as burdens. The problems you’re so quick to complain about are the same problems you would frantically cling to if given the opportunity to exchange those problems with another. For the most part this is simply human nature; we attach to what is familiar, even if it’s problematic as we are familiar with our own brand of chaos.  

Gratitude acts as the bridge here, overlapping with the concept of Amor Fati, the love of one’s fate, which echoes this sentiment beautifully: to not only accept what life gives us, but to embrace it completely. ‘Choosing your problems' goes beyond mere mindset, it’s a literal exercise in foresight. It’s practical. It’s about intentional living. It involves asking yourself difficult questions: “Would I rather struggle now or later? Would I rather fail while building something meaningful, or succeed in something that leaves me empty?” By answering these, you aren't just avoiding pain; you are curating it. The more deliberate we are about our direction, the more aligned our hardships will be with our values.

We must also accept the cyclical nature of progress. Solutions to last season's problems will then lead to challenges in this new season. What’s the point of getting so bent out of shape with this issue, as if another problem will not just take its place? If you solve the problem of your low finances by building a business, you inherit the ‘problem’ of taxes and leadership. As the ancient wisdom suggests, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV.  So instead of craving a life without problems, strive for one filled with purposeful ones–problems that refine you, challenge you, and point you forward. When you keep moving through each cycle with awareness and gratitude, you come to realize that maturity isn’t found in the absence of struggle, but in the wisdom to choose which battles are worth your soul’s investment.

Keep moving forward; just make sure the problems you’re facing today are worth the person you are becoming.