Last week, I wrote on the subject of “creative thinking” or thinking “outside the box” when it comes to solving some of life’s toughest problems. Creative problem solving however doesn’t just happen all at once. It must be fostered by establishing good thinking habits. Years ago, in his audio album The Strangest Secret, Earl Nightingale said that “we become what we think about”. In other words, if we approach the world with a sour outlook, we will inevitably get the same return. Much of our unhappiness can be attributed more, not by what happens but rather, how we view what happens.
Negative thinking will destroy any potential for creative solutions to our biggest challenges. Think about how many times you’ve heard those famous phrases, “That will never work” or “I could never do that”. The words we use can have a dramatic impact on our mind-set. In his book Power Talking, George Walther explains that any person can learn to shape their thinking by creating the habit of using positive vocabulary. This skill, he believes can be developed one word, phrase, or sentence at a time. Think about it—what if instead of saying “I failed” we used the phrase “I learned”. This helps your mind focus on the lessons involved when something doesn’t work out like we would have hoped. Similarly, it might be a huge benefit for us to get into the habit of using the word “challenge” instead of problem.
The simple habit of changing your vocabulary can have tremendous subliminal effects on your mind, allowing you to come up with creative solutions rather than running away or avoiding problems altogether. I always think back to one of my favorite examples - Thomas Edison. When asked about the thousands of unsuccessful attempts to create the incandescent light bulb, he said, “If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward”. Imagine speaking so positively after failing not once or twice but 10,000 times! Find more of Jonathan's articles at www.careercalling.com/Archives.htm!
About the Author
Jonathan R. Taylor, specializes in helping people in every stage of their lives to find more meaning and purpose in their work. He believes that to find that purpose and meaning, a person's interests, skills, passions, and goals must integrate seamlessly with their work. To get more great advice, subscribe to Jonathan's newsletter at www.careercalling.com!