Whack-a-Mole with Problems: Stop Feeding the Fire

For so much of my life, it felt like I was playing a game of whack-a-mole with my problems. As soon as I would “solve” one issue, another would pop up. It always seemed like there was something that needed fixing, something standing between me and the peace I craved. I believed that if I could just take care of those problems—clear them out—then I’d finally be able to live lightly, playfully, and freely.

But I realized that this thinking was the problem. The constant battle to “solve” my issues was never-ending because the very act of focusing on them gave them power. It’s like fueling a fire: the more oxygen you give it, the bigger it grows. What if the solution isn’t in solving every problem that arises, but in simply taking away its oxygen?

If our true, holy identity is unshakable—if who we are at the core cannot be harmed—then the idea that we need to keep solving problems to feel safe or whole is an illusion. The problem isn’t the problem. The problem is that we’re feeding it, giving it attention, and treating it as if it has real power over us.

But what happens when we stop feeding the fire? When we stop giving energy to the endless cycle of trying to “fix” everything, the fire of our problems begins to die out. Without oxygen, a fire can’t burn. So what if we redirected our energy away from the problems, and toward something much more natural and true to who we are?

Step by step, I’ve found that the answer lies in reconnecting with the eternal, childlike innocence that lives inside all of us. That part of ourselves that hasn’t been burdened by the world’s rules and expectations. The part that remembers how to dance and sing and play, simply because that’s who we are.

How to Stop Feeding the Fire

1. Recognize the Trap – Start by acknowledging when you’ve fallen into the trap of problem-solving mode. It’s easy to get stuck in the loop of thinking that if you just handle one more thing, everything will be okay. But remember, that’s the fire trying to get you to give it more oxygen.

2. Shift Your Focus – Instead of obsessing over the problem, ask yourself: What if this isn’t something I need to solve? What if the answer lies in simply releasing it, letting it be, and refocusing on something that brings you joy or peace?

3. Reconnect with Innocence – Begin taking small steps to reconnect with the part of yourself that knows how to live lightly. This could be through play, creativity, spending time in nature, or simply giving yourself permission to not take life so seriously. Ask yourself what would feel fun or joyful right now, and do that.

4. Embody Your True Nature – Practice being the embodiment of that unshakable, divine identity. When challenges come, instead of jumping to fix them, remind yourself that your true self cannot be harmed. Problems lose their weight when you realize they don’t define you.

5. Live in the Moment – Stay present. Problems often come from thinking too far ahead or dwelling too much on the past. Bringing yourself back to the present moment allows you to stop fueling the fire with thoughts that don’t serve you.

Ultimately, the key is to stop giving power to the problems that seem to occupy space in our minds. It’s not about fighting or fixing them, but about remembering that we are already whole. We are already free. The more we embody that childlike innocence—the more we live as our true selves—the lighter life becomes.