It’s easy to overestimate the importance of a problem when it strikes which is why some problems can feel like the end of the world when you’re faced with them.
It’s also easy to underestimate how quickly problems stop mattering given enough time, which is why we often don’t realize just how insignificant certain problems are until later.
When you’re faced with a challenge, try consulting your future self.
Ask: “how important is this going to be in a week, month, or year from now?”
9 times out of 10, you’re looking at a small problem.
The rest of the time, you’ll realize that the problem you’re faced with is exactly as important as you thought it was.
In either case, you can learn to respond accordingly.