Problem-Solving Skills

The next couple of months see a lot of emphasis on the sign of Virgo, one of the best problem-solving signs in the zodiac. One of the reasons Virgo is so good at solving problems is that it actively looks for them and pays attention to them, unlike some other signs that prefer the 'try not to think about it and hope for the best' approach. Since last September, Saturn has been in the sign of Virgo. This gives everyone an opportunity to solve at least one life problem that would otherwise seem too difficult or complicated to tackle.

For example, I recently chose to tackle a weight problem. I'd gained about 20 pounds in two years. I have been using Virgo techniques to design and implement a plan to reverse this trend. So far, it's been very successful and surprisingly painless. Thus far, the most amazing thing has been losing weight without being hungry. I basically learned that I was not eating out of hunger but for other reasons.

Here are some of the skills that a Saturn in Virgo approach to a problem brings to bear.

1. Define the problem. This seems like an obvious step, but since problems by their nature are unpleasant, many of us react by having a rather vague picture in our mind of what the problem really is.  Saturn in Virgo encourages the discipline to sit down and define what the problem really is. It also means facing the situation, not what you kinda hope the situation would be if it wasn't a problem. In my example, I needed to find out how much I actually weighed as opposed to telling myself things like "I always gain weight before my period."

2. Rigorous analysis. Saturn encourages the rigorous part; Virgo loves the analysis part. The Virgo approach means breaking the problem down into its parts so that it doesn't seem overwhelming. Saturn means being realistic about each element of a problem. In my case, I had to choose how much weight I needed to lose and set small goals, breaking the problem into manageable increments. I had to be realistic about the time it would take to address each element of the problem.

3. Structure and method. Again, Saturn likes the structure part; Virgo likes the methodical part. In practice, this usually means building a step-by-step plan for dealing with the problem. In my own case, I needed to build a plan for what I would eat and establish a method for putting the plan into practice.

4. Focusing on facts not feelings. Problems almost always have an emotional component to them—that's how we know they're problems. Virgo problem-solving asks us to look at the facts behind the feelings and utilize the information we find there. That can be difficult for some intuitive types who have a distrust of logic. But this approach often pays off big-time, especially for those of us who have the hardest time with it. Focusing on facts allows us to temporarily escape the unpleasant emotions that accompany a problem in order to concentrate solely on realistic solutions.

 5. Appreciating the details. Virgo is not about the big picture; it's about the details. The details are where problems actually live and where they can actually get solved. You may identify your problem with a big concept such as a 'business downturn' or 'overeating,' but the reality is that the business downturn means something specific like 20% fewer orders per month or snacking before bedtime. Concentrating on changing a few specific details can make all the difference in the big picture.

6. Working out a process and sticking to it. Virgo likes to work with processes rather than concepts and Saturn likes to stick with things until they have a chance to succeed.  If your problem centered around something like credit card debt for example, you could resolve to spend $20 less each week on lunches and apply that to your debt. Although $20 a week may not seem like much, if you stick with it the benefits would accelerate over time. That's because the reduction in debt would lead to a decrease in interest charges, reducing your burden further. That's the sort of leverage that Saturn likes to apply to problems.

7. Talk it through-thoroughly. Human nature often decrees that we jump to conclusions when it comes to dealing with other people. It is easy to assume people are being difficult on purpose, often before we know all the motivations for their behavior. Virgo is a sign that places great emphasis on communication, and Saturn asks us to be thorough in our discussions. That means being thorough in asking questions and listening for answers as well as in explaining our own point of view.

8. Documenting outcomes if necessary. If you have a business or financial problem, documenting the progress you are making can be important to keeping yourself on track and in determining whether a problem-solving process is working. In other types of problems, such as weight loss, documenting outcomes serves as a reward. Keeping a journal of your progress as you work toward a goal can reinforce your success, partly by proving to you that it is occurring! In fact, it's been shown that people who keep a food diary lose more weight.

9. Focusing on what you've achieved and not on what's left to do. Saturn in Virgo works best by its nature with problems that take a long time to solve. If the journey takes a hundred thousand steps, you'll need to congratulate yourself for every 50 steps you take. You simply cannot focus on the 90,000 steps left to go. Every achievement counts.

The Saturn in Virgo approach isn't the only approach to solving problems. For many problems, it isn't even the best. But it works quite well on chronic problems or problems that can be solved over time with patience, structure, and method. Good luck with yours!

p.s. I still have some coupons for weight-loss CDs if anyone is interested.