At first, the title may seem to be either too simple, or lacking the understanding of what problems can be like. However, it is so true. You simply will find it too difficult to solve problems when you are so overcome by worry, either for that particular problem, or in general. Understanding this further will require some explanation.

Think back to a time when you may have been panicked, or in a state of great concern. How did you feel? Were you able to think of any clear move to make next? I think I can say with safety that the answer is no, and this is common. Primarily, the reason for this is that no one can think clearly when in a state of panic, as the body is effectively in a fight or flight mode. It is true that not all problems will create the degree of anxiety I am describing here, but I wanted to express a starting point.

Now, consider if you are not as panicked, but in a state of constant fear, or worry about things. It is natural that your very being is affected, and you will not be thinking any where near as clearly as you could be. I hope to address this problem, and provide you with some insight into releasing some of your worry, to allow a free flow of thought, for greater creativity, and problem solving ability.

Whilst it again, may seem overly simplistic, the very essence here is that you need to learn to relax more. I fully understand this does not make the cause of the original problem go away, but it does provide you with the ability to effectively, release your mind into a free thinking mode, where creativity can once again, enter the equation, and assist you to arrive at a desired solution to your problem. This is possible, as your primary worrying is now somewhat under control. Again, I would like to emphasise that I understand you may feel frustrated at this suggestion, or think it is so obvious, it is nearly stupid.

I can only ask you to genuinely consider, and then, action this point, as only through action, will you see the results that you so understandably desire. However, it is your level of desire that will also resolve your problems, and further, help you deal with your worry.

I can understand you asking yourself if this is all there is to it, and the answer is yes, that is all. The technique, or secret sauce is in controlling your worry, and by that being taken care of, the rest will fall into place, as you will be free to be creative.

Have you got the stuff of success in you, or are you a failure? Please- do not answer this question yet, as you may make a mistake. I'd rather you read through this article first, and only then, after thinking about it, and considering your options, answer this all important question.

You see, your mind is the most powerful system in the world, even though you may think there are powerful machines and computers in existence today. It is a simple fact, that the most powerful computer in the world is nothing, but a fraction of the capability of our human mind.

To understand this better, many people have been interviewed over the last century, people from all walks of life, and many of these interviews are recorded in the Think and Grow Rich book by Napoleon Hill. My point, from all this, is that it has been proven that if you think a certain way, you will attract that which you think of, to you. Putting it more simply, if you think you can do something, you will more than likely achieve it.

By the same principle, it has been conclusively proven that if you think you can not do something, then you are right there as well, and will most likely fail, or not even try. To explain my point further, I prefer to not even utilise the word 'try', as that in itself, implies there is a possibility of failure, and will always use a more positive term instead.

Whilst this may seem a harsh way to describe the issue of success, I can assure you that only when you are clear in your mind, with a belief, and true desire to achieve something, are you guaranteed the greatest success. Please remember that my words are the results of my own experience, as well as many others, far more famous, and successful then me, from before my time.

Belief and success principles are like universal laws, where certain methods have been proven time and time again. By the workings of the mind, when you think, even slightly, that you may fail, or not have what it takes, you actually plant a seed of failure in your mind, and this will most likely sway your resolve when the going gets tough. In the majority of cases, anything worth doing is worth doing well, and if it does not offer a challenge, your 'stick-ability', or desire to complete the task may be hampered.

One way to resolve this, is to ensure you picture the image of the desired, and finished result in your mind's eye. It does not matter if you are not sure how to reach your destination. It only matters that you have a clear end point, or achievement point, and that you have the desire to succeed. In most cases, this alone, with the deliberation, and action of starting, will open up pathways to you that you may not have even expected. This is in direct proportion to your desire, and success thinking.

By being clear in your mind's eye of your desired result, you will most likely succeed, in many cases, beyond your expectations, when you believe, and think you can.

I am aware that for many people, economic difficulties have arisen and in some cases, have paralysed people into a state of not taking any action to remedy their situation. The scenario could be something like this:

You had been managing OK and were paying your bills, possibly saving a little, or maybe not. However, you were floating, and not immediately sinking. Then, for various reasons, your income reduced, either through unemployment, or for any other reason, and you ended up in a position where things were anything but rosy. Naturally, at this point, you had several options. They might include

• panicking, and freezing up, where nothing is done, due to overwhelming fear
• acknowledging there is a problem, and it needs to be tackled
• requesting the assistance of friends, and family
• Being so bloody minded as to face your fear head on, and push through
• or any combination of the above options, to name a few.

I am going to concentrate on a combination of the options above, including having the determination to face the problem head on, and push through, which in its own right, includes the acknowledgement there is a problem. Too often, people find they do not want to face their fears, as they are worried they might fail, or even, believe it or not, that they might be too successful. At first, this does not make sense, but in surveys conducted over the years, as well as general observance of people, and reading, I have noticed that some people are not sure they can handle success, not because of success in itself, but rather because the change to their comfort zone would be too great, even if it was for the better.

I know how strange this may sound to some but deep down, many others in this boat will know it to be true, if they are honest enough with themselves. I am aiming this article at those of you who know there is a problem, and want to do something about it. It does not matter how much you feel you may fail. The only certain thing sis that if you do not act, and do something to improve your situation, not only will you stagnate, but probably get worse. Problems rarely go away, even if you stick your head in the sand. You need to plan ahead, and my favourite method is the good old note pad. I write everything down, and don't stop, until I have listed every problem that is worrying me.

Once I have listed the problems, I would recommend then listing possible solutions, and facing a really important point. I call it responsibility above the line. This means that no matter what caused the problem, or why it happened, it is better to face our responsibilities as they are, and say to ourselves, "I am responsible, and will do all I can, to make it better." The secret is to really do something. Even if you at first have another failure, it is a step towards getting to where you need to be, and is thus, very valuable. When you do no nothing, you do not advance. When you do something, even if it fails, you have made a valid attempt. The next step is to acknowledge tat no matter what has happened in the past, I must move forward, by accepting responsibility. This way, you will more than likely succeed.

When it comes to fear, the only way to overcome it is to do that which you fear. I know just how easy it is to say, and I know you may feel like you might rather experience death than the thing you fear. However, here's the first part of the secret- you will not die and feel very much better after you have done that which you fear. I can here your protests already. You may be thinking about the feelings of breathlessness, and the rapid blood pressure, and more. I know these feelings because I literally stopped breathing during one experience. I was told by my partner to remember to breath, and when I did so, I felt much better.

Gratitude is one of the more important emotions we can feel, in terms of enhancing our lives. It is not the only emotion we need to have, to be balanced, well, and healthy. However, I will briefly outline some aspects of gratitude, in terms of the way it can help us, and ways you can use it to your benefit, and that of those around you.

I have found that personal experience is a great way to explain my stories, and this article is no exception. I had been going through a very difficult time in my life, and was feeling very dejected and even though I knew there were ways to move forward, was in one of those mind states where I just felt sorry for myself. Let me tell you, I do not recommend you remain in a state like that for long. It's bad news, does not do anything positive for you, or those around you, and can easily spiral out of control. So, you may well ask, then what? "What can I do if I am in a similar state of mind?" It is a great question, because if you know the answer to that one, you can really start moving ahead.

I have often found that no matter what situation I was in, and the same will apply for you, there will always be something good in your life, for which you can be thankful for. If you've just burst out laughing, because you think this is the biggest joke you have ever heard, given your situation, let's consider a few things. Firstly, you are able to actually

• Laugh. This is a healing mechanism of the body and is very powerful.
• The chances are that if you're reading this, you probably either own, or have access to a computer, something that less than twenty percent of the world population have. Naturally, in the USA, the figure is higher, closer to around sixty percent, as at 2009. However, I think you will be able to see my point here.
• You can read, which again, is a privilege less than half of the world population have, and that places you far ahead, in terms of opportunities available to you.
• You have a brain, and the ability to train it, given the will, and access to information. Again, with a computer, as above, your chances are looking pretty good.
• You can look at all the other things you have, which could be your health, or access to medical care, a family, even if if you are suffering from problems.

The above list is by no means exhaustive, but I wanted to give you an idea from which to start looking at all the things you have. It may be as simple as the fact that you had food to eat for breakfast, and are nourished through the day. It may also be something very much bigger. We are all different, and living in different situations. However, understanding these points makes it easier to see all we have, and helps us to show gratitude.

Now, for the real big-cheese point here. Have you ever considered being grateful for what you do not seem to have yet? Yes, I know that may seem like I have really taken a leap into the loopy home, but I am being serious. This is a concept that works. Let me explain.

When you set your mind on a path of a particular goal, or 'thing' that you want, you subconsciously start to reprogram yourself, by working towards, and also, coming into contact with people and circumstances that will help you achieve your desire. This does not mean that you can say, 'Thanks for the great sports car' and then just forget about it, and see it the next day.

I am referring to a slightly more organised approach. If your goal is a sports car, you need to become emotionally attached to it, and be detailed. In other words, imagine the detailed feelings you are having, when you are sitting in the car. Be detailed, and imagine the colour, the style, even the smell of the interior, as well as the feel of the drive. What does it sound like, and how are you feeling about yourself? By being this clear in your imaginative mind, you will be more accurately programming your mind to see opportunities, as well as be more inclined to come into contact with the right people to help you through as well. I know it may all seem 'way out there', but these principles have been proven, time and time again.

To apply this to your situation, then, use the image of your desired gain, which can be a physical thing, or even a position or job, and essentially, any thing else you like. Just be clear in your mind of your desired good, and be grateful, and thankful for it already being given to you. The reason I say you need to imagine you already have it, is that this will change your perspective, and attract the situations to you, as your behaviour will change as well. All of this is very subtle, but has been proven.

I would have to say the best way to prove this, is to do it yourself. You will find yourself much happier, in yourself, as well as outwardly. In many cases, you will end up with more than you even imagined possible. Too many people have applied this principle to their lives, with success, to ignore the principles here. I first read about this concept in The 'Think and Grow Rich" book By Napoleon Hill, and have been applying it in my life ever since.

However, as a caveat, you still need to go out there and be a go getter, and be determined. Mixing that with your grateful feelings, for things you have, as well as the things you will soon have, but feel you have already, will make all the difference.

For many people, their initial belief is that they are organised, and are 'on track', and in your case, you may actually be on track. However, I have found that many people who think they are travelling in the right direction, find they can substantially improve their tracking, by understanding the concepts I will mention below.

To suitably understand my point, I ask a number of questions of people, and ask they really sit down, and start writing their desires, no matter how fanciful they may seem. At this point, it is necessary, to simply let your imagination go, and write everything down. Do not make the mistake of pre judging, and eliminating your desires or goals. This is a crucial point to note, as you need to be honest with yourself, and write what you really want.

It is unimportant how you will achieve these goals at this stage, as that is not a necessary ingredient to success, at this point. To understand this point better, you only need to look back in history, at all the great achievements and inventions, and see how many people started, not quite knowing how they would get to their destination, save for the determination to press on. In most cases, the hardest part is to actually start, and once you are on your way, you will find that ideas, and the knowledge you require will come to you. This is not hype, but based on my experience, as well as the teachings of others before me. To fully appreciate this point, it is beneficial to read the Think and Grow Rich Book by Napoleon Hill, as the point of desire is explained very well, in that by deeply desiring a thing, you will be persistent, and determined to break through any obstacles.

When a person gives up, they simply do not desire something very much. It sounds harsh but is true.

Please do not confuse this point with the need to sometimes modify your direction, to achieve your goals, as you will often find that to solve some problems you may encounter on the way, you need to deviate to reach the final destination. This is not the same as giving up at all. To fully understand this point, it is essential to ensure you have laser sharp focus in all you do.

To give you an example of this point, I frequently start my day with a list in my diary of over 15 items to do, but will ensure that when I am doing a particular task, I focus on that task alone, and will only look at the next one, when I have completed the first task. This is imperative, as otherwise, your mind is simply unfocused, and your mental energy is wasted, not to mention a squandering of your time.

To conclude, by being deeply focused on your specific task, after listing them down, you will find your achievements massively increase. This can be best proven after you start your application of this principle, and may I suggest, you start today, and not procrastinate till tomorrow.