He coined term “lateral thinking” and set about developing clear, visual ways to enhance way we think. He uses image of a car. Just because you’re in a good, quality car does not mean you are a good driver. You must learn how to drive. Some people are better than others, but everyone can acquire a reasonable amount of skill. You must have desire to learn and spend time practicing. Once you become good at it, it’s easy and enjoyable.

De Bono believes that good thinkers aren’t born—they’re made. He says there are two dangerous fallacies: that if you’re intelligent, you don’t need to do anything about your thinking, and that if you have a more humble intelligence level, there’s nothing you can do about your thinking.

De Bono inspires us to develop a broad view. The broader your knowledge base, better your thinking. De Bono actually came up with phrase, “think outside box”--but don’t hold that against him! It remains a clear image and a permanent part of our language because it immediately conveys concept of stepping out of our regular patterns.

Do your own lateral thinking to see where it leads. When you find yourself stuck in your thoughts-of-the-day cycle, go wide. Jump track. Consciously take your thoughts in a new direction.

Decide on a certain cue—say, whenever you look in mirror and notice wrinkles or gray hair—and instead of your usual “I’m-getting-so-old” lament, picture yourself with white hair and crinkly eyes. Imagine things you’ll be doing when you’re old. Escape into a reverie of dreams you see coming true and loving friends and family surrounding you. Stop dreading process and focus on that brilliant 85-year-old who will be amazing and amusing everyone.

Your bones need lateral motion, and so does your brain. You can walk for miles and miles, but unless you add some sideways action, you’re grinding your hipbones in their sockets. Linear thought will get you where you think you want to go, but you will have missed out on tremendous opportunities for gaining perspective.

You’re going to keep on thinking until day you die. Why not be a bit intentional about it? Pick your cue, and engage in a full-on effort to replace a repetitive thought cycle with an interesting new twist.

Take your brain out to dance in this daring new direction. Flex and stretch it at every opportunity. Feel it becoming more limber, supple, and—why not?—sexy.

Cha-cha-cha, Grandma!

The Myth of Change as Struggle

Contrary to popular belief, change does not have to be hard! Change can be difficult if we choose to fight it or deny it-like perennial ostrich, sticking its head in sand and pretending something doesn't exist. When we don't prepare ourselves for life's rollicking rollercoaster, we don't enjoy ride.

But if we get proactive and anticipate change, we can not only flow with current, but also direct current. We can lead change by taking initiative to take creative steps ahead of time that allow inevitable to be accommodated with ease and even joy! A Change Master chooses to embark in new directions, to experiment with different options, and to surf waves of change as a fun life adventure.

Intuition to Rescue!

With today's fast-moving pace, action often has to be taken with limited or imperfect information about future. Without all necessary facts, analytical mind doesn't know what to do. But intuition does! A Change Master consults intuition-inner guidance, instincts, "gut feeling"-when sufficient data is not available.

The analytical side of our consciousness organizes and stores information. The intuitive side immediately retrieves all relevant data and experience from full depth and breath of our lifelong experience in order for us to make wise decisions. The analytical mind is to intuition as a file cabinet is to supercomputer at Pentagon. Intuition functions a thousand times faster than mind. And has resources a million times more vast. A Change Master uses intuition to improve his or her ability to improvise and adjust quickly to change. Intuition helps us to not only survive, but to thrive!

Inner Guidance Saves a Family

Humans also have precognitive abilities, but usually don't use them as much as animals. Susan, one of my coaching clients, is an exception. One day she received a very strong intuitive knowing to sell her family's home and move. Loving house, neighborhood and schools, her husband and children didn't want to uproot their lives without a good "rational" reason. Her certainty in accuracy of her intuition fortunately convinced family to relocate. The week after their home was sold and moving van had left with all their possessions, house was destroyed in 1994 Northridge, California, 6.8 magnitude earthquake!

Ride Wave

With an open, willing attitude toward life's inevitable fluctuations, a Change Master can discern probable path of future and make pre-emptive adjustments to make transition easier when it comes. If we are in denial or blinding fear about future, we can't get ourselves ready to handle shifts with grace. With an accepting approach, we can intuitively predict course of our future and arrange our life to take fullest advantage of changes.

(c)2004, Keith Varnum. All rights in all media reserved.