Solve Problems And Generate Ideas In 30 minutes
Need inspiraton? Who doesn't! Here's a great technique I've been using for a long time that helps you kick-start amazing inspirational ideas as well as innovative solutions to problems.
* First you'll need pen and paper...an egg timer or alarm clock...a quiet, comfortable spot where you can be alone for half an hour. Put a do not disturb sign on the bathroom door if that's the only place you can get alone time (I've done this).
* Get comfortable...set the timer for 30 minutes. Now ask yourself a question that you need an answer for.
Here are a few that I've asked myself over the years:
"How do I get my 9 year old son to stop stealing and lying?" My son Joshua was going through a rough time after I went back to University and to get my attention he decided stealing and lying would be a good way to do that...ack! I tried everything to get him to stop, from reasoning with him, lecturing him, grounding him, taking away his favorite things, all the way up to calling a friend who is a police officer and getting him to come over in full uniform, gun and all, to have a talk with Josh. Nothing worked!
Here's another question I've asked, "How can I come up with $1,000 by the end of the month?" and another one, "Which program should I take at University?"
You get the idea. Form a question that you really need an answer to.
*Now write your question at the top of your page in BIG letters.
Read your question over and over out loud for a few minutes...really focus in on it.
* Start writing!
Write anything that comes to mind. It doesn't have to make sense, don't censor yourself...just write until the timer goes off! If your mind wanders re-focus on your question and read it out loud or to yourself over and over for a few minutes.
Here are a few things that I wrote down while focusing on my question about Joshua.
- steal something from him (so he'll know what it feels like)
- cut off a hand (don't worry, I didn't seriously consider it ;o) )
- make him pay 10 cents everytime he lied or stole
- take him to a child psychologist
- spend more time with him
* Once the timer has gone off, stop writing, put your paper away somewhere and just let it go.
Keep a notepad and pen with you at all times over the next few days because your mind is going to be throwing all kinds inspirational ideas and solutions your way.
That's it! Easy and effective.
Oh yes, in relation to my question, "How do I get my 9 year old son to stop stealing and lying?", this is the solution my mind came up with, QUIT! Yup, that's it. So I did...I sat Josh down and told him that I just couldn't see myself being the mother of a liar and a thief...I told him he had to make a choice and that based on his choice, I would make a choice. If he chose to continue lying and stealing then I would quit being his mother. I would no longer make decisions for him, he could do anything he wanted...but he would have to deal with the consequences of his decisions. If he chose to stop, then I would continue to be his mother. It was clear cut...easy to understand. He went into his room for about an hour and I sat anxiously awaiting his decision. He came out and said, "Okay, I won't do it anymore." I nodded and said, "Good choice." It was all very anti-climatic. He stopped the stealing and lying and is now a great 23 year old young man studying to be a nurse.
Nothing I had tried up to this point had worked. This simple idea of giving him an either/or choice worked a miracle. It was his decision...that's what made the difference.
I guess I could have researched why or how this technique works...but you know what? I don't care! Oftentimes knowing the why and how of things takes the magic and awesomeness out of them. So now, instead of trying to figure out the why and how of something, I just do it! If it gets results, I use it. If it doesn't, I throw it away. I encourage you to do the same.
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Maureen Oliver is a Reiki Master/Teacher and student of success principles. For more inspirational articles, affirmations and success quotes, visit http://www.affirmations-for-success.com
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