Szymon's Zettelkasten

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P: Problems are manifestations of root causes


Each problem is a manifestation of a root cause.

A root cause is a reason behind a problem.

A problem is only a symptom. If you take care of the symptom, the problem will occur again. If you want to stop the problem from occurring, you must address its source—the root cause. To put it another way, if you want to stop a weed from growing, you must pull it up by the root.

You can discover the root cause by repeatedly asking 'why'. For example:

I was late (problem)

Why?

Because I didn't manage to catch the bus (problem)

Why?

Because I overslept (problem)

Why?

Because I am forgetful (root cause) -> it's usually an adjective, not a verb.

Once you know the root cause, you can slay it together with all its current and future manifestation.


Relevant notes:

growth mindset: Treat problems as something positive because they are stepping stones for growth.

P: Problems contain a gem that can help you grow: Each problem you encounter can produce a principle when solved.

Referenced in

P: Problems contain a gem that can help you grow

The majority of mistakes are manifestations of their root causes, which you should always strive to find. A root cause is always a reason (why?) of the problem and usually is an adjective. You can get to the root cause by repeatedly asking 'why.'