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by Joel Suarez
As you ponder your goal and determine the best course to achieve
it, you will need some creative ways
of thinking and facing
challenges that will arise. The most creative-thinkers out there
will encourage you to think outside your box and to consider even
the wildest of ideas.
One way to do this is to “Wild Mind Brainstorm.” Wild-Mind is
done by having a piece of paper and writing down EVERY idea that
occurs to you about the situation you’re facing. Do NOT evaluate
your ideas—just write them down. Do NOT consider something “ too
silly” or “too dumb” to write down—just write it down!
Evaluate your ideas in a few days, but not when you’re writing
them down. Consider these ideas much like a newborn baby. You must
cradle that baby and hold it lovingly and help it grow to a
responsible adult. The same goes for your new ideas. You might find
that one idea you would consider to be the “silliest” turns out
to be your key for unlocking the door you’re facing.
Remember the guy who came up with the idea for Post-It Notes? The
adhesive was discovered long before they found a use for it—and
the person who said, “Let’s make some note pads that are small
and can be easily removed,” was laughed at. But now—do you even
see ONE office without Post-Its around? I have at least 6 pads of
Post-Its in my desk drawer alone. There’s one in the kitchen, and
one in the car.
Another way to increase your creativity is to be around others
who are creative. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so
people can improve each other.” If you hobnob with those who are
known for creativity, it will wear off on you. And you will find new
ways of looking at things and thinking about situations, as well.
You can find audio-books and speeches that will stir up your
creative juices as well. Professional speakers and those who have
“been there, done that” often hit the speaking-circuit and can
pump fresh ideas and life in your goal and the ways you attain those
goals.
I prefer removing myself from the goal-achieving mode and moving
to a truly creative outlet—the arts. You may not consider yourself
artsy or think you have any ability in this realm, but it’s worth
taking a lump of clay (or Play-Doh) and working with it.
You may find, as I do, that when I’m working on a hobby that I
truly love, I free up a portion of my brain that was engaged in my
problem-solving. When that happens, I typically find a potential
solution to my dilemma. Artistic creativity often sparks other forms
of creative-thinking, as it engages a different area of the brain
than what we’re used to using. Pick up a paintbrush, a pencil,
arrange some flowers, or begin a needlework project. You may find in
color and artistry you have a new lease on what you’re doing!
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