“The chief cause of problems is solutions.”
We’re quick to fix things.
To intervene. To optimize. To add a solution the moment something feels uncomfortable.
But many problems don’t come from neglect.
They come from overcorrection.
We solve too fast.
We add rules where presence was needed.
We add systems where clarity was missing.
We add effort where rest would have helped more.
Over time, layers of solutions pile up and complexity grows.
What started simple becomes heavy.
What was clear becomes rigid.
Sometimes the most effective move isn’t to fix.
It’s to pause.
To remove.
To stop adding complexity to something that was never broken in the first place.
Better lives don’t always come from better solutions.
They come from fewer, more thoughtful ones.
And often, from knowing when not to intervene.
If someone came to mind while reading this, feel free to forward it
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I’m Gregorio Sanchez, founder of The Compound Life and father of four daughters. I write about how small daily choices in health, mindset, and productivity compound into clarity and purpose.
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