The Two Layers of Change: Why Solving Your Problems Just Creates New Ones

Have you ever solved a massive work problem, celebrated the win, or finally sorted out a tough conflict, only to find the anxiety or self-doubt just moved onto the next project?

You fixed the what, but the who underneath stayed exactly the same.

In my work as a coach, I’ve seen that every challenge we face actually shows up in two layers. And if you ignore one to focus on the other, you end up stuck in a loop where change never really sticks.

The Two Layers of Your Challenges

The problems that land on your desk—and in your life—are never just one thing.

Layer 1: The Situation (The Surface)

This is the stuff right in front of you. It’s the deadline you’re racing against, the argument that’s draining your energy, the career move you’re scared to make, or the stress of managing your team.

Most standard coaching and self-help focuses right here: giving you productivity hacks, scripts for difficult conversations, or five-step plans. This is the layer of doing.

Layer 2: The Self (The Foundation)

This is what’s happening underneath. It’s the internal landscape that decides how you handle that situation. It’s your core beliefs about whether you’re good enough, your sense of identity, how much you trust yourself, and the deeper questions about what it all means.

This is the layer of being.

The Trap of Picking Just One

When we work on only one layer, we usually fall into one of two traps:

Trap A: Focusing Only on the Situation

When you look only at the external Situation, you get good at temporary fixes. You might use a time-management trick to hit a deadline, but you haven't dealt with the fear of failure that made you overcommit in the first place.

The result: You get a quick win, but the root pattern—the exhaustion, the need for approval, the lack of boundaries—is still there. You end up having to solve the same type of problem over and over again.

Trap B: Focusing Only on the Self

When you focus purely on "inner work"—like abstract spiritual study or endless journaling—you risk getting ungrounded. You might feel incredible clarity during a meditation or a weekend retreat, but that feeling falls apart the moment you walk back into a stressful meeting or check your bank account.

The result: The work feels disconnected from your actual life. You get the concept of self-trust, but you don't know how to use it when the pressure is on.

Real Change Happens Where They Meet

The situations in your life aren't distractions from your deeper work; they are the testing ground for it.

Real, lasting change happens in the Intersection of Situation and Self.

This is the space where:

1. Everyday pressure becomes a chance to grow. We use a real-world Situation—like the stress of a big presentation—not just as a problem to fix, but as a chance to spot a deeper Self question (e.g., "Why do I feel like I have to hide who I am to be professional?").

2. Inner shifts change outer choices. When you shift your identity (e.g., "I am someone who trusts my own voice"), you don't need a strategy to fake confidence. It just happens naturally. You speak up, you stay calm, or you set a boundary without overthinking it.

This approach stops the cycle of searching for the next fix. Your life starts to make sense: your actions back up who you are, and who you are shapes your choices.

Example: The Marketing Director

Think of "Jane," a marketing director who felt constantly overloaded.

• The Situational Approach: Jane read books on delegation and tried new software. She cleared her plate for a week, but the pile-up always came back because she hadn't touched her core belief: "If I don't do it myself, it won't be perfect."

• The Integrated Approach: We used that feeling of overwhelm (the Situation) to look at the belief that tied her worth to her solo effort (the Self). By facing the fear of letting go, Jane shifted from being a solo perfectionist to a grounded leader.

The result? Delegation became easy. It wasn't a technique she had to force; it was just how she operated now.

Your Next Step

If you’re tired of solving the same problems in different disguises, and you’re ready for a way of working that brings your whole self to the table, it’s time to work at the Intersection.

The first step is simply seeing where you’re stuck.

I’ve put this philosophy into a simple map that shows you exactly where you are in this cycle: Are you stuck in busy-work (Situation), lost in your head (Self), or ready to bridge the gap?

You can start exploring this map right now in my free mini course.

Acess the Free Mini Course Here - Click Here

Final Reflection: Take a look at your biggest challenge right now. Is it asking you to change what you do, or is it asking you to change who you are? The answer tells you where your real work begins.