Can your life really be problem free? Aren’t problems just a part of modern living? Yes and No. I believe that by learning to anticipate problems instead of waiting for them to hit you over the head, you will find that yes, your life will be virtually problem free.

And yes, I see those hands waving at me. And of course, you’re right. There’s no way you can foresee every single problem even in a car or a home, much less in your life. Things do happen over which you have no control.

But as in the example of the car, if you have the tires checked regularly, and get a tune up, and have the oil changed, the likelihood of an unexpected problem is severely diminished.

The keyword here is “unexpected”. Problems will arise, that’s life. Things will leap out from you behind stranded cars, and dark bushes. That’s life.

But if you can anticipate them -- or at least be prepared in the event of them-- then the impact is much less devastating.

The same with your life.

If you budget your money, set aside extra for emergencies, and make sure you have enough insurance to cover disasters, you will be less likely to encounter financial problems that could potentially ruin you.

If you have your health checked routinely, when a problem arises, it will be caught in the earliest stages and treated most aggressively. Waiting until a health problem presents itself could be too late.

If you choose your relationships carefully, and exercise boundaries and high standards, you will have happier more successful interactions.

Problem Free living is a pre-emptive strike. It’s building the ark before the water rises. It’s saving for college before she’s 18. It’s living life on your terms instead of the economy’s.

It’s proactive vs. reactive.

Put these ideas to work in your life and you’ll see the stress-less benefits immediately.

Shoot for Simplicity  While it’s an old joke almost, the less you have, the less you have to break down. I remember my dad hated when electric car windows first came out. “Just something else to repair”, he’d grumble. Does that mean you should deprive yourself of new and improved things in life? No. It does mean that you should consciously consider what is contributing, and what is contaminating, the quality of your life.

Listen to your inklings  They are wise: Have you ever noticed a clink clink clink in your car, maybe even reported it to a significant other, or a mechanic, but were told it was probably just a rock in the hubcap? Then later find out it was the start of a big problem? Trust yourself. If you feel something is wrong in your finances, or your relationships, or your job, check things out. Listen closely. Trust yourself.

Rally the Reserves  Reserves are the ultimate in planning ahead. Having reserves means exactly what it appears to -- you have extra. But it’s not just about stockpiling, although that is a basic starting point. Also create a reserve of love in your life, a reserve of support for those bad days, a reserve of opportunities for when life’s winds blow.

Choose Better  That really sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Then why is it so darn hard? The trick is in learning 2 new habits: (1) Choose consciously. We generally know when our choice is right as opposed to and when it’s coming from somewhere that’s selfish, or immature, or fearful. When you are living life consciously, it makes it easier to choose better because you KNOW the results will be better. (2) Never trade what you want at the moment for what you want the most. It’s too easy to just give in and do whatever feels good at the moment. Evaluate each choice in light of what you ultimately want in your life.

Waiting until the storm arrives is usually too late to do much to help. Learning to be proactive in your life is the ticket to making a life that is less stressful and more joyful. And you too can be virtually problem free.