Creative Problem Solving & Decision Making / Monthly Mentor - August 2009

Creative Problem Solving & Decision Making / Monthly Mentor - August 2009

Human creativity has its source in the superconscious mind. By using this superconscious capability, we can move faster toward the achievement of our goals rather than using any other human faculty. The superconscious mind is the source of all pure creativity. All great innovations and all major breakthroughs in human history have come as a result of superconscious functioning.

Creativity is a way of improving existing ways to doing things. We are creative individuals to the degree to which we find ways to improve the way we do things in any area.

When we program a goal or a problem into our subconscious mind, and ask the subconscious mind to solve it for us, the subconscious passes it on to the superconscious capability. The superconscious has access to all data stored in our subconscious mind, and is has the ability to discriminate between valid and invalid data. The superconscious mind functions on a nonconscious level 24 hour a day, and it is always working to resolve problems and to move us toward achieving our goals.

Another characteristic of the superconscious is that it is capable of goal-oriented motivation, for which it requires clear, specific goals. The superconscious is triggered by clarity of definition and by decisiveness, and it can release a continuous flow of ideas and energy for goal attainment. The superconscious responds to clear, authoritative commands given in the form of positive affirmations. Whenever we say, “I like myself,” “I feel terrific,” “I earn $200,000 a year,” we trigger the superconscious into action.

The superconscious operates best in a spirit of faith and acceptance. The more you believe in it – the more you absolutely trust that you are moving in the direction of your goal and that your goal is moving toward you simultaneously – the more rapidly it seems to work. The harder you try to force it, the less effective it is. The superconscious grows in capability with practice.

Another capability of the superconscious mind is the ability to take us through the lessons we need to learn to achieve the goal. It will take us over hurdles, and through mistakes, disappointments, and stumbling blocks which teach us the valuable lessons that enable us to reach our ultimate goal.

An important characteristic of the superconscious mind is that it makes all our words and actions fit a pattern consistent with our self-concept, with our current programming and with the goals we are trying to accomplish. The superconscious mind does not function when we are mulling over our problems or our goals. It works only when we are concentrating totally or when we are not thinking about something at all.

The superconscious mind can also be used for programming. We can program our minds to wake up within one minute of a particular time. The only reason we use alarm clocks is because we doubt this superconscious capability. You can tell yourself to make a phone call at a certain time, or to take something from home to the office, and the superconscious will remind you at exactly the right moment.

The superconscious mind is the source of all creativity, all intuition, all flashes of insight, all hunches, and of the ability to see things in a brand-new way. The superconscious mind is available to each one of us, like a power source that we can plug into simply by finding the plug.

Superconscious creativity is stimulated by one of three things: clear, specific goals to which we are totally committed; pressing problems; or relevant questions we ask ourselves and of other people.

If you use the following techniques on a regular basis, you can move rapidly toward the accomplishment of your important goals.

The first and simplest of all techniques is solitude. Sit quietly and do absolutely nothing for 30 to 60 minutes. After 20 to 25 minutes, your mind will begin to flow like a river of ideas, and the answers to your most pressing problems, or to your most important goals, will come to you.

A second method to stimulate the superconscious is deep relaxation and meditation. You sit very quietly, breathe deeply, count down from 50 to one with your eyes closed, completely relax, and calm your mind. During that period of complete calmness, or sometimes immediately after it, the ideas you’ve been seeking will shoot into your mind.

A third method of stimulating the superconscious creativity is surrounding yourself with a natural environment. For example, go for a walk alone, or sit by the ocean. The human being is a creature of nature, and the closer we get back to nature in a relaxed way, the better and the more rapidly our minds work.

Mindstorming is a powerful technique that consists of sitting quietly with a pad of paper and writing your major problem or goal in the form of a question. The question might be “How can I increase the value of my service to my customers today?” or “How can I use my time more efficiently today?” Force yourself to write 20 answers to that question. Let your mind flow freely and write every single answer you can possibly think of, but try to make every answer as concrete as possible. Once you’ve done this exercise, it’s important to take at least one of the answers you have generated and implement it immediately.

Another method for stimulating the superconscious mind is what we call the systematic problem-solving method. To use this method, you must approach every problem as though there were a logical, workable solution. Change your language from negative to positive. Instead of calling a problem a problem, which is a negative word, call it a situation, or a challenge or an opportunity. Clearly identify all the possible solutions, and itemize them without prejudgement and without evaluation. Once you have all the possible solutions, analyze them and choose one or a combination of those solutions, and make a specific decision. Determine exactly what you will have to do to implement the solution, and set a deadline for its completion.

Brainstorming is another excellent technique. The ideal number for a brainstorming session is four to seven people. The ideal time period for a brainstorming session is about 30 to 45 minutes. You should concentrate on only one thing, and that is generating the greatest number of ideas in the shortest period of time. One person should act as the leader of the brainstorming session. Also appoint a scribe, who quickly writes down the ideas as they are generated. Make the question you are brainstorming as specific, as simple and as clear as possible. Set a deadline on the session, encourage laughter and ridiculous ideas, and make no comments, statements or judgments on any of the ideas; just strive for the greatest possible quantity.

How do you know a superconscious flash, a superconscious idea? The idea will come into you mind 100 percent complete – will be total in every aspect – and you will recognize it as being the ideal solution. The second way you tell a superconscious solution is that it will be a blinding flash of the obvious. Third, you will feel a burst of joy and energy, a feeling of elation and excitement that causes you to want to implement the solution immediately.

Believe that you have this superconscious capability that you can plug into on demand to solve your problems and achieve your goals. The clearer and more precise your goals are and the more committed you are to accomplishing them, the more rapidly the superconscious capability will work to attain them.