Can A Simple Idea Change Your Life?
Ideas happen all the time. And when I say an idea, I don't just mean a mere thought. An idea is more than a mental opinion and it is loftier than a sentiment. An idea is a special thought. It is a thought that gives you a rush, a sparkle, a feeling of exhilaration. We all have ideas, but usually we brush them off, rushing to do other more pressing or more entertaining things. We treat ideas like beggars who try to steal our attention. We hurry past them with our eyes averted. Then, of course, there are those times, when we need to resolve a situation as quickly as possible-but our minds remain blank! Our feeble brainstorming sessions result in fatigue and frustration. "Never mind!" says the idea-generating Genie within. Unless we cultivate a habit of writing down our ideas when they occur, we will not find them when we really need them. We cultivate ideas by learning more and by teaching what we know. And we cultivate ideas by capturing them on paper whenever they show up. Ideas come loaded with inspirational zest. They call for attention, welling up from the depths of consciousness at the oddest times?when we're falling asleep or waking up, when we're in the shower, or when we're climbing aboard a crowded shuttle. Right now, I'm giving you an idea. I'm telling you that ideas can be your best friend and that you should treat them with respect, even reverence. When you fixate on a mental object, your brain automatically starts to elaborate on a theme, and before long, you start to get fresh new ideas. Perhaps an idea can make you a fortune. Consider the idea of mixing two different types of favorite foods to create a unique combination. The foods are chocolate and peanut butter. It's a simple enough idea, but by acting on it, Hershey Foods has made $4.43 billion in sales. Yes, BILLIONS. The other day, I had a simple idea that is making my life work better. I noticed that when I dwelt on my problems, I became overwhelmed by them. This resulted in my not taking any action. And, generally speaking, they often got worse. I noticed that making grocery lists forced me to notice what I needed and forced me to focus on picking up everything that I needed when I go shopping. Similarly, by making lists of my problems, I was able to sort through them and develop simple actions to resolve them. When I decided to make a list of all my problems based on my positive experience with grocery lists, I combined two experiences which had nothing to do with each other to create an elegant strategy. Now I get great satisfaction when I scratch off an item on my list. Problem after problem, task after task, I am moving forward in my life, adding more quality and eliminating more pain. As my problems diminish my life is getting easier. Now I'm beginning to see them as challenges rather than problems. And by noticing my own self-improvement, I'm able to get more enthused about resolving difficulties by generating even more ideas. A simple idea has changed my life. A simple way to generate ideas is to ask questions like, "If I were (state the problem) what would I like to happen right now?" For example, "If I were (a car that needed repair work) what would I like to happen right now?" Then your mind would come up with an answer and an objection. "I'd get repaired (answer) but there isn't enough money (objection)." You'd then continue dialoging with yourself in this vein until you could find an idea on how to generate more money, or find someone to fix it for free, or find a substitute repair work that would be cheaper until you did find the money. Do you see how it works? Gathering ideas can be fun and they can change your life, too. All it takes is paying attention to all the ideas that are showing up for you every day. Resource Box Saleem Rana got his masters in psychotherapy from California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Ca., 15 years ago and now resides in Denver, Colorado. His articles on the internet have inspired over ten thousand people from around the world. Discover how to create a remarkable life Copyright 2005 Saleem Rana. Please feel free to pass this
article on to your friends, or use it in your ezine or
newsletter. It's a shareware article.
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Discontinuous Innovation
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
Life ? The Teacher
You've probably heard the phrase "repetition is the mother of learning" well apparently it's also the mother of teaching. Often it seems, Life ? The Teacher uses the tool of repetition to imprint into our brains the lessons it's needing to impart to us. At least this has been my experience.
A Time for Rebellion!
When is it right for you to rebel against the negative powers working against you? When are so weighed down by someone or something that it is absolutely justified for you to strike back? Have you ever asked that? If so, then read on and let's look back in history and find a time when men of courage and perseverance did just that. Let the example of those who have gone before inspire and motivate you!
Mindfulness and Beliefs: Irrationally Yours
I can't help it--I am a confirmed neuroscience geek.
The Hidden Superpowers Of Your Mind
The mind is an infinite wonder. It has the fantastic ability to transmute your desires into their physical counterparts. You can do anything that your mind can conceive, as long as you have the belief and will power to back it up.
Penny For Your Thoughts?
Every artifact, every tool, everything ever designed or created by human beings for their own need, comfort, luxury, amusement or advancement began as an idea, a concept?a thought.
Innovation Management ? moving past the wall
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
Let the Seeds Grow
The thought that every great thing that has ever happened, been spoken or invented began first with a single idea is not a new one, but one I don't think many people have taken to heart.
Business Innovation ? the Best Ideas
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
Creativity and Innovation Management - Teach, Coach, Learn
Coaching, training or learning about creativity and innovation involves mastery of at least 12 domains.
Thousands of Failures, but Thousands of Patents
Thomas Edison failed thousands of times before he revolutionized the world by inventing and patenting the incandescent light bulb. Because of his desire to create the incandescent light, he was one of the most persistent people in history. The invention in which Edison had the most failures, the incandescent light, was one of his most famous inventions. His persistence also led to many other great inventions. He had patents on items such as electricity, batteries, cement, motion pictures, phonographs, mining, telegraphs and telephones.
12 Tips for Taking Smart, Calculated Risks
Most of us know we should take more risks. But the "no-guarantee" component of risk-taking makes it a scary proposition in many instances.
Use Your Intuition As a Valuable Tool for Change
Here's a subject that we don't normally think of when we think about change. Yet, intuition can be a very powerful force for change if we honor it fully. So let's take four minutes to look at intuition. First we'll look at what it isn't, then at what it is, then at just how it relates to change in our lives.
Peace Alliance vs. Fighting a Battle
We read in the press about the "War on Drugs" and the "Battle of the Bulge". Television tells us to fight the flu, legal battles or the war in Haiti. Our doctors tell us we are fighting cancer or in a battle with obesity.
Improve Your Business Dealings with Improvisation
"Nothing is accidental ... use everything." -- Keith Johnstone
Business Innovation ? Small Changes, Big Effects
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
Creativity Management and Good Ideas
Some ideas occur in the office and others occur away from the office.
Business Innovation ? Good Thinking NOT Leadership
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.
The 99 Percent Rule
It's Friday night, you're sitting at a restaurant, and as your meal arrives, the server says, "Now, don't touch that plate. It's hot." What's the first thing you do?
Why It?s Important to Make Your Idea Real
Say you have an idea for something new and exciting in your life.
|