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The new year is here. This is time for us to reflect on the year we’ve just had and look forward to improvements for the future. These improvements may not necessary be a resolution (which rarely work) but more an awareness to weaknesses within ourselves that need some attention. Changing a weakness to a strength doesn’t just happen overnight (or in an enthusiastic vow right before the ball drops in times square). It takes years to develop, then it changes and it evolves again. People are constantly changing and evolving and usually find solutions to the weaknesses. The question isn’t “are we going to turn our problems into solutions?” but “how much time are we going to take to turn a problem into a solution?”. There’s an old saying that health is wasted on the youth. Why do say that? Because young people spend so much time and energy on problems that eventually work out. Then when we get older we ask “why did I waste so much energy on that problem?”.

Speeding up the time it takes to change a weakness to a strength can be broken down in a very simple way. We are solution oriented in our strengths and problem oriented in our weaknesses. Anyone who is good at their job can take a tough work situation, break it down in a simple fashion and come up with a solution. Now ask this same person to get in shape or find a fulfilling relationship. You may get answers such as “I don’t have time” or “It’s just not meant to be for me”. This same person (who is so brilliant and solution oriented at work) is problem oriented with his/her weaknesses. Instead of looking for solutions in relationships and health, this person focuses on the problem.

We as PT’s, spend our working day with motivated people looking to address their weaknesses. Despite having high pressure jobs, families and/or a busy New York social calendar, they find the time to come in and we work together to achieve goals and improve quality of life. In short, our clients are solution oriented and as demanding as our job is, there is nothing more gratifying then spending time with solution oriented people.

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