I’m so afraid, because there’s a problem I had before, that I’m realizing, and while I’m digging for information now, maybe is still alive.
Something that I had thought was over, may not be. I’m going to find out tomorrow.
Why all the concern and emotion now? This just goes to show to me, that deep inside, I hadn’t made sure to finish this off.
I thought it irritating and useless, and because I didn’t finish it off, it just grew and grew.
What are you supposed to do with the problems in your life, so you don’t get stuck in the same situation I am in?
Diagnose it
What is the real problem? What is the situation surrounding it? What is your situation?
The problem I’m having now is one of taxes. I’m paying the right taxes, but it wasn’t clear that I had to file for closure of business registration when I closed my businesses, and that I had to keep filing, even if I wasn’t earning, and wasn’t paying.
And this was 7 years ago.
It sucks, because I realize, back then, I had not diagnosed the problem, and was just heavily affected with the pain of having to face the initial consequence.
I didn’t want to lose money, and I believed that the problem was that the government wanted to suck me dry, and take my money.
That was the initial consequence, but it wasn’t the real problem.
The real problem was that all those penalties and missed requirements could accrue to such a huge amount, that it might take a bigger sum down the road, or worst case, I wouldn’t be able to pay, and be jailed for that.
Another consequence would be having my registration status have such a black mark, which would make it hard to change status, and thus, making it hard for me to start with a clean slate having a new business in the future.
In the light of THOSE consequences, losing money was the better deal.
But I didn’t see that, because I had not diagnosed what the real problem was, and subsequent consequences, not just the ones staring at my face.
Don’t tolerate it.
This is my most egregious sin in this whole story. Because I was so hurt, I wanted to feel good and escape, and not have to face the harsh reality.
So I let that problem live.
Now, I realize I was just throwing up excuses. All about me, and caring for myself, and figuring out how to feel good about myself and my choices, trying to rationalize it all away.
Or rather, I was wishing it away. I was wishing that I would feel better.
In short, I tolerated it. I deemed it escapable, and non-threatening, and so I let it be, never throwing any definite and concerted effort to vanquish it.
Because I tolerated it, it is still hurting and haunting me now, emotionally, and mentally.
That’s too much baggage. We’ve only got so much time left to live.
And it’s something I can’t just ignore, because this problem will have long-term consequences later on, that could and will affect my opportunities, and way of life.
Do something. Endure it, go through it, face it, work at it. Take steps to getting rid of it.
But please, never tolerate it.
Sustain the effort to finish it
This is another one of my sins. When my previous accountant drifted off and wasn’t replying to me, I let that go.
By then, I was tired, and I wanted this to end. I was focusing finally on the parts of my life that were growing, and I was finally feeling better.
Imagine the fall I had in my mind, and the shock, when I found out that the problem still existed.
It was such a big blow to my ego and identity – for I had thought that I was the type to finish what I started.
Apparently, not everything.
This is the lesson brought by the problem – that you have to bring the effort and the energy to sustain what you’re doing, and the focus that you’re providing, to finish and see things through.
Identify what is the clear end goal milestone. In my case, I should have had a certificate claiming me to be clean of all liabilities and accounts. But since I didn’t have the certificate, the case has not been fully closed.
Next would be to identify the next steps towards obtaining the clear measure.
And don’t stop until you get it done.
I stopped before because I was still hurt emotionally, and I found myself wishing the problem away, whilst not sustaining real effort to finish it. I also was too concerned about what people would say, and I didn’t have a clear diagnosis of the truth of the problem.
Don’t stop, until it gets done.
Keep documentation
This one is something that most people don’t take care of, but is important, especially in today’s “he said, she said” world.
Keep documents, minutes, put everything crucial down in writing. It’s better to be safe than to be sorry.
Part of the problem, and why problems perpetuate, is because people forget. They forget what they say, what they said they’d do, and what they commit to.
Memory is fallible.
By keeping documentation, you can more easily keep people accountable, align to the truth, and have proof of agreement, disagreements, and accomplishment.
Or in my case, since I didn’t have enough documentation, a proof of non-accomplishment.
I’m not saying to be mired in red tape and bureaucracy.
I’m saying to keep reminders and records of crucial details, such as agreements, certifications, testaments, contracts, performance, and accountability.
Keep documentation. You never know when you might need it.
How do you approach problems in your life? Let me know in the comments below!
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