Everything is Figureoutable…did you know this already? There’s even a book written by Marie Forleo with that title, and since I claim to embrace an Improve Mindset, her book has now been added to my reading list. Whether her book relates to this post or not, who knows, but having the skill to figure things out is a talent that I greatly admire and think it should be emphasized on a resume and in recommendation letters. Educational settings and the workplace may use the term problem solving, but the underlying basis is the same, we need people in this world who demonstrate the belief that everything is Figureoutable.

This week, I admit to feeling a little bit of pride in Holdin when he expressed this skill. After inquiring from Karol about how she was feeling about her 14-year-old hopping on a plane to Portugal with a group of students this week, she shared Holdin’s favorite comeback to her lately, “I will figure it out, Mom!” And this smart and wise young man will do just that! Holdin will use his brain and the resources available to him because in his world, everything is Figureoutable. I have a friend who nicknamed one of his coworkers “Fio” because, like Holdin, this man’s response to a problem was, “We’ll figure it out!”

Perhaps this is a reason which compels me to engage with groups like Campers on Mission and Samaritan’s Purse, because they typically include some Fios. Solutions may come in the form of “paint, putty, and glue,” along with a large amount of duct tape, but eventually most issues are Figureoutable. However, the unfortunate dilemma with gaining this skill is that it usually involves this annoying little concept called experience. And we typically gain the most valuable learning experiences when something goes wrong; therefore, I am encouraged when a member of an Emerging Generation champions the phrase “I will figure it out, Mom!” because it means that Holdin is not afraid to fail, adjust, and then devise a solution.

Currently in this journey to navigate what is means to Flourish at Life, I could benefit from a little bit of Holdin’s optimism as I delve into philosophical and theological explanations to habit formation. I admit that this entire “Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?” thinking leaves me a bit overwhelmed, and there are people far wiser than me who have attempted to understand why humans form both healthy and unhealthy habits. However, I will not be deterred in this endeavor, because at least parts of this issue are Figureoutable. The answer may not come as quickly as it does in the television crime dramas that I enjoy so much, where an investigation is figured out in one short episode, but being persistent in the pursuit of answers is vital to equipping college students for the next stage of life.

So, how do we provide Emerging Generations with experiential learning so that they can cultivate the necessary experience to flourish in their academics, athletics, occupations, families, and communities? How do we equip them to embrace a Figureoutable mindset? How do we encourage them to become like the kid in the photo who found a solution to the house rules, but perhaps not in a besting-the-rules kind of way? Please consider sharing your suggestions in the comments below.

Reference:

Forleo, M. (2019). Everything is figureoutable. [Kindle version]. Penguin Publishing Group.