In his marvelous book “Better,” Atul Gawande tells the tale of obstetric forceps. Invented in the 17th century to help stuck babies get unstuck during labor, they promised to be a valuable addition to the medical toolkit — so valuable, in fact, that they were kept secret within a single family of doctors for over 100 years. In that time, thousands if not millions of mothers and newborns died unnecessarily.

Sharing workable solutions and adopting them can improve and even save lives. So how might we make it easier to hear about solutions?

One way is by simply telling more stories about what works, like the folks at Changemakers.net do with their motto of “open sourcing social solutions.” When we implement a creative fix at work or in our community, can we share the story of how and why? When writers and producers look for new story topics, can real-world problem-solvers be the stars?

Along with telling more solution stories, what if it was as easy to find those stories as it is to hear about school shootings and natural disasters? Bad news about what’s not working can be a good thing, when it reminds us of problems in the world that need tackling. Yet good news with a can-do spirit can have even more impact, if it motivates us to support promising initiatives and adopt them in our own lives — as professionals, as family members, and as citizens. Be they ever so humble, good ideas that work at a small scale can get people thinking about what might work at a large scale.

Imagine, a few years from now, using an online “solution browser.” One where you could ask “how do I…?” about virtually any challenge, and get back suggestions like those a trusted adviser might give. One where you could share ideas and stumbling blocks with others tackling the same challenges you are. One where you could collaboratively evaluate a new solution in your area of experience and expertise, or simply browse inspirational stories where people made headway against seemingly intractable odds.

What we often need is not yet more raw information, but visible paths to follow — paths made by competent people going in the right direction. For each problem you worry about, chances are others have thought it over and gained experiences to share. And if not, shouldn’t it be easier for you to be the pioneer, and share your experiences with others?

While better sharing of solutions may seem like a small step, it’s a practical one that could make us more optimistic about making progress — and more likely to actually do so.