I jotted this note down from a speech I heard. Kids are imagination machines. Their world is a kaleidoscope in which reality and make-believe run together into a riot of fantastic patterns and colors. Why do so many of us lose this ability as we age?How many of you had a delightful toy where you swiveled
end piece and bits of colored paper or plastic created new shapes continuously? Maybe you have grown-up version using glass pieces encased in a heavier material than cardboard that you still point at light and ooh and aah at. Perhaps it's time to go and get one as a reminder to let yourself be in awe of wonder of how simple changes can be made and new solutions found through a little twist.
I worked for a company that named one of their post-production special effects products "Kaleidoscope" because of it's ability to take images and merge, convert, and generally perform magic. If you watch any movies or television you have seen amazing results that technology allows people to achieve. Think of your brain as an incredible piece of equipment powerful enough to mimic this exercise. Study after study has shown that we use just a small portion of our brain's capabilities - and much of that is on logical and analytical portion.
Want to know how to encourage use of your imagination to create more instances of achieving those intuitive a-ha solutions and moments of knowing that you are on right course? That flash of insight feeling? A direct knowing or comprehension. How about that spontaneous understanding of how or why of something. Whether you pay attention or not is a matter of trust in yourself. Of being willing to accept that what you have just realized is valid. Even if it isn't final solution - it's a step up ladder to creating a better you and a new opportunity to reaching goal you are currently pursuing.
Are you providing outlets for your creative senses and need to stretch your boundaries? Allow yourself to feel and act beyond your typical innovative and inventive styles so an even more original strategy can evolve. This generally requires you to be willing to accept ideas from wherever they may emanate (the concept of allowing universe to bring to you what you need and want). Is your mindset one of limitations or expansiveness? Are you willing to think bigger than "normal"? Or are your patterns of thought more in realm of being squished inside a box because that is what you are used to?
Some people believe that you have to be very specific about what you want your outcome to be. It's true that some tasks or projects require an understanding by everyone involved. It's essentially starting point from which you then work backwards to figure out best way(s) to get to that level of achievement. This may be referred to as having a common vision or a shared sense of purpose.
I believe it's okay to be vague when you are starting out on a project. This allows you to be more receptive to possibilities. Brainstorming, mind-mapping, jotting notes, or just talking with others can stimulate your mind into new directions that you weren't even considering before. Try not to anticipate an outcome as that can be a mind closer. Another approach that may appeal to you is to consider your main topic to be eye of a hurricane and as it swirls and builds force - more and more is brought into its fury until it is finally spent and settles down.
