Can you solve problems easily? Can you learn new things efficiently? Can you increase your brain power? Whatever you think and feel about these questions, those thoughts and feelings will have an effect on your brain function, because brain power and psychology are intimately connected.

Checkmate in four moves, book said, so I looked until I found it. I love chess puzzles, and I used to think those elegant solutions were not often possible in real games. Then it occurred to me that they probably are there, but that without expectation of finding them, I settled for less worthy moves. I find elegant ones more often now.

A man I know spent his childhood with wealthy kids and their families. Is it coincidence that he now makes more money than most of us? Did his rich friends give him money? Did they help him in business? No, no, and no. He simply feels that a certain level of income is normal, and his mind will always push him towards that level.

Are you beginning to see how expectation and belief can expand or limit not only your mind, but your life? So how do you apply this to increasing your brain power?

Can You Learn Creativity?

Have you ever watched Robin Williams do a stand-up routine? Could so much creativity and spontaneity result from a highly organized approach? Definitely. Wild and funny thoughts don't come from nowhere. Comedians have habits of mind, and even most spontaneous ones get better with practice, because they're training their brains to find humor in situations.

You can do this too. Creativity in all areas can be improved by cultivating right habits in your mind. You can start training your brain today, with some simple techniques.

Train Your Brain

If you want mind of a creative inventor, start redesigning everything you see. Imagine a better light bulb, a faster way to serve food, or a better lamp. Do this for three weeks, and it will become a habit. It's also a good way to pass time while driving or waiting for an appointment.

How about systematic creativity in poetry? Write a word on each of 40 cards; 10 verbs, 10 adjectives, 10 nouns and 10 with any words. Shuffle and deal out four cards. Write a 4-line poem using one of words in each line. My wife has had poems published that were created with this technique. Your mind will begin to find a poetic use for any word if you use this method often.