Addressing issues without understanding their true foundation leads to creating new problems instead of solving them.
A two-part test for identifying genuine root causes:
- When the cause is present, the problem exists.
- When the cause is absent, the problem disappears.
If either condition fails, you haven’t found the root cause — you’ve found a symptom.
Ask yourself: what is the true cause of financial struggle? What is the real reason for unhappiness? Apply the two-part test and keep digging until both conditions are satisfied.
This understanding prevents circular problem-solving and enables meaningful change.