Thinking and Problem Solving

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It seems that everyday we encounter new problems. In fact we have so many problems that most people now take problem solving for granted. And it is this familiarity with problem solving that has in fact created yet another problem for us to solve.

Every day we solve so many little problems we're no longer creative with our problem solving.

Now as a child, you were probably much more creative when you had a problem to solve. Your problems were seen with wonder and amazement and you were persistent until they were solved.

As an adult, you probably aren't amazed by your problems and you just want them to solve themselves and go away. That's why you probably continue to use the same methods of solving your problems instead of trying new things.

So how do you wake up your creative problem solving child within you?

First you must learn to view your problems in a different way. Don't focus all your attention on the negative aspects of the problem. Rather focus your attention on the desired outcome when the problem is solved. Like the child who wants a cookie from the cookie jar that's just out of reach. He doesn't focus on the height of the jar. Instead he sees himself holding a cookie.

Second you must learn to ask questions about the problem. While you might think this will make the problem bigger and harder to solve it actually opens the door to finding bigger and better solutions. The child wanting the cookie may ask why the jar is up so high. And knowing the answer will help him develop a solution that can help keep him from caught.

Third you want to do some brainstorming. That means you come up with all kinds of solutions, even those that are unconventional. The cookie wanting child may imagine himself floating to the jar or using his powers of levitation to get the jar to come to him. He may see himself as a great mountain climber or super thief dangling on a rope from the ceiling. A child knows no boundaries when imaging possible solutions to his problem.

Fourth you'll need to think about your listed solutions. Some solutions may have to be thrown out because you can't see any way to implement them. Others may deserve more thought. While the child trying to get a cookie may wish he could fly or had special powers, he knows these solutions won't work. Instead he focuses on using some of the solutions that can be modified like the mountain climbing or the "super thief."

Fifth you must be flexible and willing to try new and unconventional things. The child scaling the mountain may first have to build the mountain out of things that are handy like his step stool, a chair and upside down kettle. He doesn't limit himself to using things for what they were intended. He inventories what's available and devises new ways to use them to achieve his goal.

Just remember, children are master problem solvers because they are not afraid to try anything. They work and experiment and take their time to solve a problem. If something doesn't work they try again because they have fun trying to solve problems. To a child every problem is seen as a challenge or a game.

You as an adult encounter many problems and probably see solving problems as just one more thing you have to do. You probably see them as work and there is nothing fun about them. And many problems like fixing a tire can be solved by using the same solutions you've used in the past. However there are some problems in your work and life that require some thought and new creative solutions.

So the next time you encounter a new problem or an old problem that keeps coming back try using the above steps to awaken your childlike problem solving capability.

To Your Success,
Susan

P.S. I used an example within this article however the article itself is an example of something that's done often online. However when it's done correctly you usually can't tell. Do you know what it's an example of?

Don't be afraid to leave a comment and take a guess because there are no "wrong" answers. And in a day or so I'll post the answer I'm thinking about.

Susan

Tags: thinking and problem solving, thinking and problem solving problem activities, problem solving, creative thinking, childlike problem solving, unconventional problem solving