How do you solve a personal problem? Let's say you have a
fondness for gossip or quarreling. How do you stop? Or suppose
you have a life-controlling addiction to alcohol or drugs or
sex. How do you get free?

Sometimes the answer is something that seems totally
unrelated.

For example, in the middle of winter when your feet are cold,
you may try putting on thicker socks or a blanket. Still your
feet may be icy. One secret to warm feet is to stop focusing
on your feet and look at your head. That's right, go to the
other end of your body and put a hat on. Although your neck
and head have only 10 percent of your body surface, in the
cold that's where you lose a whopping 30 percent of your body
heat. Having nothing on your head is like opening a window in
your house in the dead of winter. If you keep that heat in
your body with a hat, your blood will carry it down to your
toes.

In the same way, when people have problems, spiritual leaders
often recommend that they do something that sounds unrelated--
such as read the Bible, pray, go to church, or focus on
serving other people. These seemingly unrelated things bring
grace to help overcome problems.