Relentless Solution Focus summary

It’s often said that before we arrive at a solution, we need to fully understand the problem. But, in reality, this process is a myth and doesn’t usually work. This is because when we think about our problems too much, they expand and begin to dominate our thoughts. This often leads to cycles of negativity and the onset of problem-centric thought. So, instead of problems breeding solutions, focusing on problems usually produces even more problems.

The key message here is: To stop thinking about your problems, learn to identify and focus on solutions.

If someone offered you a surefire guarantee to reduce your chances of getting cancer, heart disease, or a stroke, would you take it? Of course you would. 

Well, it turns out that individuals with a Relentless Solution Focus mindset are scientifically proven to experience a significant increase in health, happiness, and success. Specifically, RSF decreases our likelihood of cancer by 16 percent, heart disease by 38 percent, and stroke by 39 percent. In addition, it can help you sleep better, make friends faster, and increase your chances of success.

Control the things you can control, and don’t worry about the things you can’t. 

At some point in your life, you may have received that advice. For example, we can’t control adversity. But we can control how we react to it. In fact, the real problem is often not the problem itself, but rather how we deal with it. That’s why focusing on solutions requires mental toughness. Relentlessly searching for those solutions is the master key to success.

You may have heard the idiom, Take care of your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves. In other words, keep track of your little victories; together, they add up to great successes in the long term.

However, we sometimes do the opposite. We become so absorbed in the big picture that we fail to recognize the smaller parts. As a result, our problems may appear overwhelming and unsolvable. 

Do you know where you want to be in the next five years? And have you identified the two most important daily activities you should accomplish to get there?

It’s important to think through these questions; success is never accidental. To truly adopt the Relentless Solution Focus mindset, you’ll need to put in consistent effort. The best way to do this is to come up with a plan. Luckily, the authors have developed an equation that you can use within your plan: Vision + Integrity = Happiness. Filling in this equation with the specifics of your plan can help you to discover what’s most important.

When you complete a task, do you commend yourself for what you have done well, and perhaps analyze where you could improve? If so, this aligns perfectly with the RSF mindset. However, if you dismiss what you’ve done well and focus on your shortcomings, there’s probably some room for improvement.

Concentrating on shortcomings is symptomatic of a perfectionist mentality. This way of thinking often ends up with us not celebrating our achievements, no matter how small. Additionally, we perfectionists forget to remind ourselves that we can be successful. Ultimately, this diminishes our self-confidence, which in turn can affect our performance.

We all know the importance of physical exercise. But did you know that the brain also needs exercise to remain healthy and perform at its best? In fact, this is crucial to fighting problem-centric thoughts.

One useful exercise is the authors’ “Mental Workout.” This was the first mental training tool of its kind used to teach athletes exactly how to maintain their mental toughness in high-stakes competitions. It’s like lifting weights – with your mind.