Problems are not challenges

I’ve been told not to call problems problems. They should instead be called challenges.

The idea is that ‘problem’ has negative connotations, and to keep morale high it’s replaced with the more positive-sounding ‘challenge’.

While problems can be challenging, they are not the same word. A water leak is a problem, but not exactly a challenge. Running a marathon is a challenge, but not a problem.

Further on, if something is only a challenge and not a problem, what is the actual value in addressing it? Challenges can of course be both fun and a way to grow, but it does not necessarily fix anything.

But I think the real problem lies in trying to avoid something uncomfortable and annoying as a ‘problem’. Instead of replacing the word with something that does not mean the same way, you should change your perspective. A problem is something to cheerish. It means there is possibility to make something better.

Calling problems challenges do not make them go away. It might hide them, because all the boring problems that are not challenges do not get addressed.

Call a problem a problem and a challenge a challenge. They are important words on their own and deserve to be used appropriately.