5.1 The beauty of the problem-solving agenda is its applicability to your personal life as well as to groups. Examine a problem or confl ict you are experiencing (or have experienced) in your personal life. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a relationship problem, an employment issue, or a living situation.

After you’ve identifi ed a specifi c problem from your personal life, complete the following questions:

1. Describe in one sentence what specifi cally is the problem.

2. Whom does the problem affect?

3. How serious is the problem? Circle the appropriate conditions:

I think about it occasionally. It affects my relationships with others.

I think about it often. It affects my job/school performance.

I obsess about the problem. It affects my daily functioning.

4. What are some causes of the problem?

5. What solutions have you already attempted to solve this problem?

6. What do you think will happen if the problem is not solved?

7. What are some constraints to a workable solution?

What did you think about this exercise? Were you honest in your answers to the questions? Were you able to answer all the questions or were there some questions you weren’t able to respond to? Does this exercise change or modify how you see your problem? For the better?