It's not a challenge. It's a problem!

Don't call a problem something else. It's a problem! Our whole life is about problems. Waking up early is a problem. Going on vacation is a problem. Too warm is a problem. Too rainy is a problem. Eating too much is a problem. Everything is a problem! One continous series of problems.

The zoo in cologne, Germany has a baboon rock with around 70 animals. It's great for a visit with the family. While the baboons are fed, the zoo keeper will tell you about them. I was very suprised to see their chief. You would expect a big, mighty and powerful baboon. Much to my surprise the Alpha is the oldest, ugliest baboon you can think of. There is no doubt, he has fought the most battles on this rock. He has so many scars and other tell-signs of fights and injuries they cannot be counted. Look at the picture! The zoo keepers throw the food over to the baboons from the surrounding water. All animals are gathering and struggling to get their share as food hits the ground. There is about a 3 meter radius around that chief. Food that landed in his area is not touched by any baboon. It looks like there is an invisible force field around him where other baboons can't enter: Once in a while another animal dares to poke the shield to get a juicy apple. And sure enough that problem will be handled instantly! No hesitance: A slight shift into the direction the intruder is coming from and problem fixed. That chief has taken on every imaginable problem on that rock, dealt with it and everybody knows it. He is an Alpha problem solver and not a mighty Alpha silver back waiting to get challenged. He knows what becomes of little inconveniences if he doesn't deal with them.

The idea of reframing the term "problem" in a positive way (calling it a challenge) is great, though: Problems are great! They make us learn and stretch. They test us. They are the driving force of our evolution. We can see problems as opportunities and remind ourselves that their solution will advance us. We can see a problem positively and still call it what it is. That's what i vote for. That baboon chief wouldn't call it anything else. Problems made him chief! I hope solving too many problems doesn't make that ugly, though...