How to Solve Problems by Questioning Your Assumptions

To solve a problem, separate what is actually happening from the assumptions you have made about it, then ask questions that may reveal other options. Entrepreneur and problem solver Ignacio Mendoza Martinez shares this approach on The Elisha Show with host Amb. Elisha Arowojobe, connecting clearer problem-solving with self-knowledge and accountability.

Key takeaways

• A problem can seem harder to solve when assumptions are mistaken for facts.
• Asking better questions can help you see the situation more clearly and uncover possible solutions.
• Self-knowledge begins with honest self-acceptance and includes taking responsibility for your choices.
• Supporting another person means being present without trying to control the decisions they make.

How can questioning assumptions help solve a problem?

Questioning assumptions helps distinguish the situation itself from the story you have built around it. That distinction can make possible solutions easier to notice.

Start by asking what you know for sure and what you are interpreting. Then ask what else could explain the situation and what question would help you understand it better. Ignacio’s point is not that every problem has an easy answer, but that assumptions can keep a person from seeing available options.

What questions can help you understand a problem?

Ask questions that clarify what is happening, which parts are facts, and what you may be assuming. Better questions can help uncover solutions that are hidden by an initial interpretation.

For example, if you have decided that a difficulty has only one cause, pause and examine that conclusion instead of treating it as settled. Consider what you still need to understand before choosing a response. The goal is to look at the problem more honestly, not to force a positive interpretation.

How does self-knowledge relate to self-love?

Self-love begins with self-knowledge, and self-knowledge requires honest self-acceptance. That includes recognizing your own part in your choices rather than avoiding accountability.

This approach treats self-love as more than a comforting idea: it involves seeing yourself clearly, including your struggles. Ignacio connects his understanding of growth and human behavior with experiences that include divorce, grief, personal struggles, and rebuilding his life. Those experiences shaped his perspective, rather than serving as a claim that everyone’s path is the same.

How can you support someone without controlling them?

You can support someone by being present without trying to take control of their choices. Being there for a person does not mean deciding what they should do.

This distinction matters when someone you care about faces a difficult decision. Offer support while leaving room for them to choose their own response. Ignacio also discusses marriage, commitment, and freedom, emphasizing the importance of considering how love and commitment relate to personal choice.

About Ignacio Mendoza Martinez

Ignacio Mendoza Martinez is an entrepreneur and problem solver. He founded Creative Growth Solutions and Urban Shaman Ministries.

Creative Growth Solutions helps small businesses improve operations, build systems, and use technology and AI more effectively. The focus is on strengthening business performance through practical improvements.

Frequently asked questions

Why do assumptions make problems harder to solve?

Assumptions can make an interpretation seem like a fact, narrowing what solutions you consider. Separating what you know from what you have inferred can help you see the situation more clearly and ask what else might be possible.

What does self-love have to do with accountability?

Self-love, in Ignacio’s framing, begins with self-knowledge and honest self-acceptance. Accountability is part of that process because it means recognizing your choices and your role in your own growth rather than looking away from them.

How do you help someone without controlling their decisions?

Be present and supportive while allowing the other person to make their own choices. Support does not require taking over or deciding what they should do; it can mean staying alongside them without controlling their response.

What does Creative Growth Solutions do?

Creative Growth Solutions helps small businesses improve operations, build systems, and use technology and AI more effectively. Its work focuses on practical ways to strengthen business performance.

Listen to the full conversation with Ignacio Mendoza Martinez on The Elisha Show for more on self-knowledge, problem-solving, relationships, and business systems.