Small problems will grow if good problem-solving strategies are not employed. There's nothing more frustrating than to try to solve a problem only to see that problem continue to grow. What can you do in situations like that?
As I think back, I experienced a few problems that kept growing. One was a problem related to kind treatment. An individual's treatment of me was unhelpful and unkind over a period of time--the problem didn't go away. In time, my exposure to that person and that unkind treatment was reduced greatly and replaced by more positive, helpful, and kind people. In time, the problem did not exist anymore, but while it lasted it was troubling. I hardly think about that problem anymore.
There was another issue that I tried to solve with no success. I eventually walked away, but many years later, I was able to help out in positive ways. So an early failure with regard to making change resulted in a later success with the same issue. Walking away from the problem early on was my only choice after I exhausted all my ideas about making change in that situation.
Life will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, and I'm a big fan of trying to find ways to overcome challenges and make life as good as it can be. But there will be times when the problem is bigger than you and no matter how you try to solve the problem, the solution will evade you. That's when you have to turn your attention to new and different arenas of life. Hopefully a reprieve will bring greater wisdom and resolve in time. Onward.
