appears to methat many people are confused about something that we call a problem. And it’s precisely that confusion that makes it so easy for them to be controlled by other people.

You see, what we call a problem can't exist outside of minds — yours and everyone else's. If it did, it would have weight, shape, color, surface texture, temperature, and so on. But it doesn’t.

Which means that problems are not things but ideas. And calling a situation or condition that exists outside your mind a problem is not describing it but evaluating it instead.

Therefore, problems are subjective, not objective. Personal, not impersonal.

Now if you don’t understand this, then you can be made to believe that somehow you have it within you to solve these so-called problems if only you would do something about them. And so you become easy to con. Which means. ultimately, easy to control.

All that other people have to do to lead you around by the nose is sell you on the idea that you can make a difference in some area of "social need."

But you can no more do that than you can ride on the back of Pegasus or converse with a leprechaun or visit Atlantis on vacation.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that you don’t get involved in working on a "social problem" if you’re asked to do it.

But please know that if you do, your actions can only produce good feelings and peer approval initially and feelings of frustration and helplessness subsequently. But they will not produce results for the simple reason that they can’t.

Please also know that you’ll be paying a heavy price for that involvement.

You see, all the time that you’ll be trying to solve these verbal mirages will be time away from trying to solve the real problems. Yours.

Think about it.