“Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.” — Albert Einstein
Problems come up all the time. They are a fact of life, whether we like or not. They are a vital part of life.
Problems are what invited people to create solutions we use today, and are now common place. Light bulbs and automobiles were created to solve problems.
If problems are an automatic and important part of life, why is it that the solutions do not show up just as easily?
There are a couple of simple reasons for that.
When you are focused on your problem, it fills up your sight, and you can see nothing else, including the solution.
When you are ignoring the problem, you are closed up tight. It is impossible to see a solution when you are pretending a problem doesn’t even exist!
Focusing on the problem, or ignoring the problem, is obviously not the answer.
Look beyond your problem to find the solution you desire.
How do you do this, especially if your problem is looming large in your sights?
Here are six tools and activities you can use to look beyond your problem and open up to the solutions that already exist.
1. Shift Your Perspective
Pretend your problem is a physical object. Where you are in relation to your problem gives you one view of it. You only see the one side.
There ARE more sides to this object (your problem), and yet you cannot see anything else because of your perspective.
Put the object down and step back. Begin to walk around it, and notice how it looks from different angles. Look at the object as if it was the first time you’ve seen it. Try not to label anything as you generally will stop observing once an object has been labelled.
What data or information can you gather from these different perspectives? Make note of it. Do not dismiss any of your observations.
These observations may provide you with an immediate solution. It’s amazing what a different perspective can give you. If your solution does not come up immediately, tap into one of the other 5 solutions. The information you gathered from this exercise will come in handy later.
2. Powerful Questions
Problems are an opportunity to learn. Asking questions can uncover the gift or lesson. Once we are aware of the value of the problem, uncovering the solution becomes much easier. Powerful Questions can support you to laser in, and discover the value you gain from the problem.
Here are some examples of Powerful Questions that may be of value:
What is this trying to show me?
What value can I pull from this?
What is my most obvious next step?
What other perspectives are there?
What solutions have others found and used?
What would it take to move through this?
Where might I find support or valuable information?
Why questions are generally not of value. They keep your eyes on the problem, or worse yet, on your past. What or Where questions are of value, and sometimes who or how questions may uncover some juicy information.
Play with these questions, and tweak them to fit your individual situation. Having a trusted friend or coach ask you powerful questions can support as well, as they are not
emotionally vested in the problem.
3. Brain Dump
Another powerful tool is the Brain Dump. When you get the solutions you see immediately out of your brain, there is room and an open channel for creative ideas to flow in.
Get out a piece of paper, or sit at your computer. Ask yourself, “What would it take to…” and fill in the ideal outcome. Build your solution right into the question.
Write out every single idea that comes up, no matter how ridiculous or off-the-wall it might be. Make up stuff. Be a cartoon or fiction story writer with it. Get goofy and
have a bit of fun.
Keep the piece of paper or document handy so when you think of more creative and fun ideas you can write them down.
Again, what this does is keep you from locking yourself into the “only solution”. You may find an answer within your brain dump. You may also fid that as you get back to your daily routine the answer comes up in an exciting and unexpected ways.
4. Creative Movement
Creative problem solving takes a creative mind. Open up your creativity by participating in creative activities that are completely outside of your problem. Choose a creative activity that pulls you all the way into it. Choose something you enjoy.
An example from my own experience is jewellery making. When I need to move into creative energy, one of the things I love to do is create jewellery. I create bracelets, necklaces, earrings, or anything else that tickles my fancy. I don’t create for anyone in particular, though sometimes that inspiration comes through. I often make them for me. I love wearing bracelets and anklets.
What creative activity do you enjoy? Is it art, gardening, or music? There are so many wonderful ways to get creative! The only criteria are that you enjoy it, and love immersing yourself in the creative moment.
As you open up to the creativity of your project, you automatically open yourself up to creative solutions.
5. Laugh and Play!
One of the best ways to manage your energy is to get out there and play. Don’t be so darn serious! There’s plenty of time to be serious in our lives. We don’t need to be in that place all the time.
Head on down to the park, and play on the swings. Built forts and have a snowball fight with the kids. Pull out the monopoly game, or Trivial Pursuit. Invite friends over for a night of laughter and fun. Play Pictionary or charades. Play dress up with the kids. Make sock puppets and make a play together.
Rent comedies from the video store. One of the things I’d love to own is the whole Carol Burnet series. Now that’s funny!
The intention is to bring your energy up and feel good. Again, when you feel good, it gets those creative juices flowing. Your mind and heart open up to possibilities.
6. Return to Now
Living in the Now is very important, and in truth, vital.
If you are focusing on your past, you cannot move forward. Try walking forward as you are looking backwards. Not very easy! If you do happen to move forward, you do so slowly, and will often bump into or trip over things.
Focusing on your future for any length of time does not serve either, whether you are visioning something you desire, or are fearful of something happening. When you are projecting forward, you are not living now.
The question then becomes, how do you bring yourself back to the Now?
Here are two exercises you can use to return to the Now instantly.
First would be breathing. Yes, we all do that. We have to if we are going to live. Take the time to observe HOW you breathe at various moments. How do you breathe when you are fearful of something? You take short, shallow breaths, and may even hold your breath. How do you breathe when you are relaxed? You take slow, steady breaths. How do you breathe when you are active? You take deep, full breaths. If your physical activity was intense, your breathing will quicken, but the breaths are still full.
To bring you into the Now, consciously breathe. Count in and out as you breathe. Fill your lungs and belly. Breathe deeply and evenly.
Another valuable tool is to take inventory of what’s around you. Take a minute or two to list all the things that are within your vision.
Whether you choose the breathing exercise, or take inventory of your surroundings, you immediately return to the Now. The Now IS your breathing. The Now IS your immediate surroundings. There is nothing else but the Now.
Get started today. Give yourself permission to take just one or two of these tools and add them to your tool kit. Try them each, and notice which ones feel good and are easy to implement. If you pick up on them easily, they belong in your tool kit. That way, you’ll be able to pull them out in a moments notice.
No matter which of these six exercises you tap into, you immediately move from being problem based to being solution based.
You shift your focus. You shift your energy. You create and open up to possibilities. You become the solution instead of part of the problem.
The solution is always beyond the problem. Where are you looking?
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Velma Gallant, “The Queen of JOY!”, is an Author, Speaker and Lazer Clarity Coach. Velma coaches Entrepreneurs to lazer in on what’s vital to create joy and balance in their life and work. Velma can be reached at 1-800-992-2863 or by email at
velma@welcomechanges.com. You can also subscribe to her weekly ezine at www.welcomechanges.com.
Have you ever noticed that successful people stay focused and unsuccessful people stay distracted?