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Here is a five-step process for solving problems using your creative thinking. The process is actually common sense, and once you have practised it a few times you will find that it is easy to use.
Identify three or four problems in different areas of your life (home, work, personal, and so on) and try using this process with each.
1 Association: Write the problem in the middle of a piece of paper and circle it. Now, fill the page with every idea, image, thought, memory, and so on that comes to your mind regarding the problem. Work quickly to fill up the page. All you have to do at this stage is write down all your associations with the problem. Do not analyse or judge anything. Write down everything that you think of, every thought, image, sensation, idea that emerges, as quickly as you can. Get past the censor and write down everything and anything that you feel and think.
2 Divergence: Write the problem at the top of the page. As quickly as you can, write down at least ten different solutions to the problem. Don’t think through, analyse or judge your ideas. At this stage the goal is quantity (to write down as many ideas as possible), not quality (they don’t have to be practical or reasonable). Set yourself a time limit of ten minutes to write down at least ten different solutions to the problem (and, yes, relocating to Mars is an acceptable solution to a problem).
3 Brainstorming: For each solution that you listed in step 2, brainstorm every implication, consequence, requirement, and so on that you can think of. Use a different piece of paper for each solution, work as quickly as you can and write down everything that comes to your mind. At this stage, resist the temptation to let the critic dismiss any solution as not worth spending time on, so if a solution was relocation to Mars, then you must go through the entire process for that idea.
4 Incubation: Set aside the problem and don’t think about it anymore. For how long should you do this? Maybe overnight will be enough or maybe you will need more time.
5 Aha: The problem will resolve itself, or a flash of inspiration will come to you for a creative solution, or the best solution from the list you made in step 2 will become apparent.
I have created an 8-step creative problem-solving method. Try it in solving a small problem, and then learn to spontaneously apply the method to solving all sticky problems if you want to use creative thinking in your life.
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© SD Vahl, 2012
SD Vahl hereby asserts her right to be identified as the author of this work.
SD Vahl hereby asserts her right to be identified as the author of this work.
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