Internal vs. External Problems

When faced with what appears to be an insurmountable or overwhelming challenge, I go through the following mental checklist:

1. How’d you sleep last night?
2. When was the last time you’ve eaten?
3. Did you exercise this morning?
4. Have you meditated yet today?

And in the process I’ve found, time and again, that problems are rarely external.

The situations I think ‘need to change’ are, 80% of the time, an issue of self-care.

So the next time you’re faced with a feeling of sadness, frustration, confusion, or doubt, try asking yourself:

1. Is this an external or internal problem?
2. Am I tired, hungry, sedentary, or distracted?
3. Could this situation be resolved, or more easily navigated, by first attending to these needs?

Before focusing on what’s external, let’s take care of ourselves.