Most people are under the misconception that that obstacles or hurdles encounter, will “automatically” clearly define themselves accuratelyplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigIn other words... the problem - or obstacle - that present itself, frequently isn't always the real problem that is challenging us. When we do not analyse and clarify the obstacle properly, chances are very good that we will merely address the symptoms of the problem, and not the problem itself., and that it is exploring the consequences and identifying workable solutions that should be the main focus of one's attention and troubleshooting efforts. To a large extent this is a valid way of approaching obstacles. However - a resolving mentalityplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigMentality...

The ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems and/or issues. - involves that a closer, more detailed and systematic examination of the obstacle¹⁾ should be undertaken by identifying the differences or gap between the current situation and the desired or expected outcome. The goal being to eliminate²⁾ the differences, by describing the context of the confrontational obstacle as follows…

1. What is the key (i.e. the basic or primary source) obstacle that you are trying to address, overcome and solve …and why is it important to do so?
2. Who is it an obstacle (i.e. problem and/or issue) for… you, other people and/or both? And why?
3. What is to be gained and/or lost from addressing and solving it?… not addressing and solving it?
4. What factorsplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigFor example... social, cultural, economic, political, economic, education, training, ...etc. influences. shape, define, describe and depict this obstacle?
5. What evidence or facts do you have, indicating that addressing the hurdle…
   • is worth the effortplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigI.e. TO invest one's time, money, effort and resources in an attempt to address and solve the problem.?
   • isn't worth the effortplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigI.e. NOT TO invest one's time, money, effort and resources in an attempt to address and solve the problem.?

Albert Einstein once said: “When I am given one hour to save the planet, I would spend 55 minutes defining the problem and five minutes resolving it!” This may sound quite extreme, but it does highlight the importance of defining the obstacles or hurdles in life fittingly. It also hints at some other interesting implications…

• A well-defined obstacleplugin-autotooltip__smallI.e. problem, issue or wicked challenge. often contains its own solution within it and
• that a solution is usually more apparent and straightforwardplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigI.e. going straight to the point clearly and firmly , once an obstacle is clear and well defined.

By defining obstacles as thoroughly and comprehensively as possible - more often than not - it becomes much easier to address and solve them, which - by implication - saves ample time, lots of effort, money and many resources. To accurately define a hurdle or challenge, use and apply the following guidelines and various techniques to reliably do so.

When we are caught up in a vortex of reasoning, puzzling arguments and the obstacle or problem experienced, develops into ”it's complicated“ and we do not know which way to turn to efficiently address and resolve the situation, it is a clear indication that we have to obtain a ”new-eyed approach“ to the obstacle. A new-eyed approach implies that we must deliberately start looking at the obstacle with a new set of eyes, especially if it is an obstacle or hurdle in life that - regardless of how we have approached it in the past - stubbornly persists and remain intact in one form or another.

Theoretically speaking, it is usually much easier to do, than it is. The following guidelines and techniques can be useful to bring about a ”new-eyed approach“.

When an executive asked employees to brainstorm and suggest ”ways to increase their productivity“, all he received back were blank stares. When he rephrased his request (i.e. the problem statementplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigA problem statement is a concise description and clear definition of a problem or issue to be addressed or a condition to be improved upon. The first stipulation for solving any problem successfully, is understanding the problem, which can be done by way of an accurate problem statement.) as ”ways to make their jobs easier“, he could barely keep up with the number of suggestions offered. Words carry strongly implicated meanings and - as such - play a major role in how we tend to view and perceive an obstacle. As in the example provided… 'being productive' might seem to the majority of employees, like a sacrifice that they have to make for the benefit of the company, while 'making your job easier' might be interpreted to be more like something they’re doing for their benefit, but from which the company could also benefit.

Thus, in the end, the objective remains the same, but the interpretation - accompanied feelings and the points of view - associated with each of them are vastly different. Therefore, play around with different words and phrases to rephrase the problem statement. Reword the obstacle statement several times, until you get the desired effect. As in the example provided, the executive wants the largest possible participation from employees to provide suggestions on how to improve company productivity.

For a systematic approach when rephrasing an obstacle statement, take single words and substitute it with variations. 'How can you improve your marks at school?', try replacing 'improve' with 'better', 'boost', 'enhance', 'increase', 'lift', 'raise', 'revamp', 'revise' and notice how your perception and/or interpretation of the obstacle experienced changes. A rich vocabulary is quite important here, so it is strongly suggested to make use of an online thesaurus and/or expand your current vocabulary in different languages… especially when more than one languageplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigFor example, this applies to cases where your mother tongue differs from the language in which the obstacle statement is formulated or stated. Or it differs from the people to whom the obstacle statement is presented. are involved.

Each and every obstacle or problem statement stated - no matter how simple it may seem to be on the surface - comes along with a long list of assumptions³⁾ attached to it.

Many of these assumptions might be inaccurate and could make a obstacle statement inadequate or even misguided. The first step - to get rid of possible derailing assumptions - is to make them explicit. Compile a list and identify as many alternative assumptions as you possibly can, especially those that may seem the most obvious and 'untouchable'. This - in itself - brings more clarity to the obstacle that you are being confronted with, but go further, and test each assumption for its validity… think in ways that they might not be valid any longer or isn't relevant for this particular context.

What you will find might surprise you… many of those assumptions often are self-imposed, and with just a bit of scrutiny, you can safely discard them. For example… suppose you’re about to enter the restaurant business. One of your assumptions might be 'restaurants must have a menu'. While such an assumption might seem to be true at first glance, challenge the assumption… and maybe you’ll discover an interesting alternative business model… such as - for example - a restaurant in which customers propose dish ideas for the chef to cook or a restaurant serving only buffets.

Don't exclusively rely on your own frame of mind and subsequent understanding of the obstacle or problem. Identify and select several role modelsplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigA person whose behaviour and actions in a particular role is imitated by others. or a number of mentorsplugin-autotooltip__smallAn experienced and trusted adviser., whom you intuitively feel might best guide and advise you to address and overcome an obstacle or - at the very least - mitigate its effects… or just makes you feel better.

1. First… think of how they would probably tackle the issue, had they encountered it.
2. Second… think of how they might guide and advise you, had you asked them for assistance.
3. Third… work from these understandings and insight to define and tweak your solutions, probabilities, possibilities and/or alternatives.

No obstacle - whether it is a problem, issue or wicked challenge - exists in isolation, because there is always - to a greater or lesser extent - a direct or more camouflage link with other obstacles, which - for successful troubleshooting - should not be ignored or excluded.

By breaking down the obstacle into appropriate and relevant aspects, it is much easier to either describe or define the obstacle statement in clear and no uncertain terms. The following techniques might help to accomplish a more reliable breakdown of an obstacle.

Quite often every obstacle that confronts us, frequently is a ”smaller“ piece of a larger obstacle that is challenging us. In the same way that we can explore an obstacle laterally — such as by playing with words or challenging assumptions — we can also explore it at different 'altitudes'. When we feel we’re overwhelmed with details or looking at an obstacle too narrowly, look at it from a more genericplugin-autotooltip__smallBelonging or relating to the whole. point of view. In order for us to make an obstacle more generalplugin-autotooltip__smallBelonging or relating to the whole., ask questions such as, what's…

• this a part of?
• this an example of? and
• the intention behind this?

Another approach that helps a lot in obtaining a more generalist view of an obstacle is replacing some words in your obstacle statement with hypernyms⁴⁾.

Another excellent question worth asking is whether the problem you're defining is just a symptom of a much deeper problem. For example… A high electricity bill might be the identified 'problem' and an obvious solution would be to check and determine whether your electrical system and equipment is broken, or require upgrading for a more energy-efficient consumption. But maybe… the bigger problem is that the people in your house is using electricity wastefully… and why might that be? Because, they don't understand the consequences, they don't have to pay the bill themselves, or perhaps, they're not actually aware of how wasting electricity is affecting them in the long run.

When each obstacle is part of a greater obstacle, it also stands to reason that each obstacle is composed of many smaller problems. It turns out that decomposing an obstacle into many smaller aspects - each of them more specific than the original - can also provide greater insights about it. Chunking the obstacle down and making it more detail specific, is especially useful when we find the obstacle to be overwhelming or daunting. Some of the typical questions we can ask to make an obstacle statement more specific are, what…

• are the parts of this? or
• are examples of this?.

Just as in chunking up, word substitution can also be of great use here. The class of words that are useful here are hyponyms⁵⁾.

When it seems to us that an obstacle (i.e. problem) is engulfing and entangling us, and we do not know whether we should go forwards, backwards or downwards, it is high time that we adjust our view of the obstacle to take another more efficient approach to deal with the obstacle.

Thus, it cannot be taken lightly that Albert Einstein once said “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them” because creativity and innovationplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigInnovation means...

To either improve or to replace something. For example, a process, a product or service. It is a process by which a domain, a product or a service is renewed and brought up to date by applying new processes, introducing new techniques or implementing new ideas to establish new value. doesn’t usually happen unless we change the way we've been working and reasoning up to now. Sometimes that means stopping and not working on the problem. Sometimes it means throwing out assumptions. Sometimes it means redefining the problem. And sometimes we might even have to change - if and when realistically possible - the people currently dealing with the obstacle.

The following suggested techniques can be quite helpful in adjusting, adapting or tweaking our present view regarding the current obstacle that is facing us.

Before rushing in to address, overcome and find a solution to an obstacle, we should look at it from different angles, perspectives and points of view. Looking at it with ”different eyes“ is a great way to have instant insight on new, or overlooked directions⁶⁾.

For example… If you own a business and are trying to 'increase sales', try to view this challenge (i.e. obstacle or problem) from the point of view of - say - a customer’s point of view, this may be a matter of adding features to your product or service that a customer would be willing to pay more for. Rewrite your obstacle statement many times, each time using another perspective or point of view. Such as…

• How would your competition view this obstacle?
• Your employees?
• Your mom?…

Also, imagine how people in various roles would define and frame the challenge…

• How would a politician see it?
• A college professor?
• A nun?…

Focus on finding the differences and similarities how the different roles would perceive and deal with the challenge currently facing you.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula to properly craft the perfect obstacle statement, but there are some language constructs that always help to make it more effective. An excellent way to start an obstacle statement is ”In what ways might I…“. This expression is superior to ”How can I…”, as it hints that there’s a multitude of possible solutions, and not just one.

As simple as this may sound, the feeling of expectancy helps our brains to find solutions. Make it positive. Negative sentences require a lot more cognitive energy to process and might slow us down, or even derail our current train of thought. Positive statements also help us find the real goal behind the obstacle and - as such - are much more motivating.

For example… instead of finding ways to 'quit smoking', you may find that 'increase your energy', 'live longer', 'improve your health' and others might just prove to be more worthwhile goals to strive for.

Frame the confronting obstacle in the form of a question. Our brainplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigOur Intriguing Brain!

In the 30+ odd years that I have practised as a psychologist, career- and life coach, there is one particular aspect of human behaviour that I found quite mystifying. People does dumb things (myself included), but - rather naivelyphenomenonawesomeidiotic adores questions. When the question is powerful and engaging, our brains will do everything within their power to answer it. We just can’t help it… our brains will start working on the obstacle immediately and keep working in the background, even when we’re not consciously aware of it.

When you’re still stuck, consider using the following syntaxplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSyntax is the set of rules, principles and processes that govern the structure of sentences in a given language, usually including word order. for phrasing your obstacle statement in a question format…

In what ways might I …(action) …(object) …(qualifier) …(end result)? For example…

In what ways might I design (action) the cover of my book (object) more interestingly (qualifier) so that more people will be intrigued by my book (end result)?

In addition to using effective language constructs, it’s also important to come up with an obstacle statement that truly excites us, so that we’re in the best frame of mind to creatively tackle and address the obstacle (i.e. challenge). When the challenge looks too dull for you, invest the time and effort to add some vigour to it, while still keeping it genuine. Make it enticing. Your brain will thank (and eventually reward) you later.

For example… One thing is to “increase sales” (boring), another is to “wow your customers”. One thing is to create a “personal development blog” (lame), another completely different approach is to “empower and encourage readers to live fully”.

One neat little trick that usually helps when we’re stuck with defining an obstacle is by turning it on its head…

When you are struggling to find ways to “increase sales”, find ways to decrease them instead. Then, all you need to do is to reverse your answers. For example… “Make more sales callsplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigAs brought about by the losing identifier of making "Fewer sales calls".” may seem an evident way of increasing sales, but sometimes we only notice these 'obvious' answers when we look at the obstacle from an opposite angle.

This seemingly convoluted technique may not be intuitive at first, but turning an obstacle on its head, often uncover rather obvious solutions to the original obstacle.

Collect as many facts as possible by investigating the causes and circumstances of why the obstacle currently exists and/or persist. Probe details about it, such as its origins and causes. Especially when an obstacle is much too vague. Investigating and gathering facts usually are much more productive in the long run than trying to troubleshoot and solve it right away. Because, by pulling on a plant's leaves, you will never get it right to make it grow any faster.

If - for example - the obstacle stated by your spouse is “You never listen to me”, the solution is not that obvious. However, when the statement is “You don’t make enough eye contact when I’m talking to you”, then the solution is quite obvious and you can skip brainstorming altogether. However, you’ll still need to work on the implementation, though!

We have to ask ourselves questions about the obstacle that is confronting us. What is not known about it? When did it last work effectively? Can we draw a diagram of the obstacle dynamics? What are the boundaries? Be curious. Ask as many questions and gather as many facts as possible.

It is often said that a well-defined obstacle is halfway to being solved… we might also add that a well-defined obstacle is much less of a predicament!

How we identify and deal with the many challenges of life, will most often determine our success and our eventual happinessplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigHappiness Can Be Learned

A new study coordinated by the University of Trento shows the beneficial effects of an intensive program on happiness.

The results showed that several psychological well-being measures gradually increased within participants from the beginning to the end of the course. That was especially true for life satisfaction, perceived well-being, self-awareness and brainfundamentalbrain that we experience. When we get stuck on how to troubleshoot and solve an obstacle, we have to follow a strategic plan of action by defining and breaking it into smaller more manageable sections. Decide whether to approach the obstacle systematically or whether you should rather consider how the outcome might make you feel. Find ways to creatively approach the obstacle, obtain inputplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigAny kind or type of input such as advice, ideas, points of view, perspectives, information, knowledge, experiences, ...etc. from others and approaching the obstacle from as many different perspectives and angles as possible.

To successfully address and overcome an obstacle can in many ways be compared to waging a war, it is frequently fatal when we just rush in without a strategic plan of actionplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigIn other words... Fools rush in where angels fear to tread! Implying that inexperienced or rash individuals attempting things that more experienced people would be more cautious and plan their actions, before entering into combat..

Thus, we should commonly approach and troubleshoot any obstacle systematically, when we wish to address and deal with the obstacle successfully. While the following aspects ain't a guarantee for successful solutions, it does provide - at least - some worthwhile guidelines that will significantly improve our chances for success.

Determine and defne the actual problem, issue or wicked challenge, not just the symptoms resulting from the obstacle that we are currently confronted with. When defining obstacle dynamics, do not consider things that are extraneousplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigI.e. data and/or information that is additional, immaterial, incidental, non-essential, superfluous, supplementary, unconnected, unnecessary, unrelated, accidental and beside the point. matters, only what the actual obstacle is all about. We can consider and accommodate the other relating ramifications at a later stage. Firstly, become familiar with obstacle dynamics and understand it fully.

Tip… if your room is “always” messy, the obstacle might not be that you’re a messy person. It might be that you lack containers or places to put your possessions in an organized way. Thus, try to be as clear and thorough as possible when defining the obstacle.

When it is a personal issue, be brutally honest with yourself as to the causes of the obstacle. If it is a logistics obstacle, determine exactly where and when the obstacle occurs. Determine whether the obstacle is real or self-created. Do you need to overcome this obstacle or is this all about something that you want or desire? Placing things in contextual-perspective can help you to productively navigate the follow up obstacle-solving strategy.

Recognize and determine the choices and decisions we need to make and how they will contribute to deal with and overcome the obstacle. Taking decisions smartly can help us to move forward in overcoming the obstacle, hurdle or difficulty currently experienced. So, start by deciding on…

• what to focus on,
• what needs to get done and
• how you will go about doing it.

Tip… we often have several obstacles to address and we need to decide which ones to tackle first. Solving one obstacle might ease tension or take the stress off of another related obstacle. Once you make a decision, don’t doubtplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigDoubt

inner criticplenty of noisethinkingawarenesscontextmindfulnesscognitive dissonancesbenefitsnowmoment

There are two-sides to the doubt coin... self-doubt & idea-doubt, the one side - by default - often is toxic, the other side - when handled correctly - is nourishing.

...

* self-doubt is BAD * idea-doubt is GOOD

it is imperative to obtain yourself. Dare to look forward from that point on, without secretly wondering - constantly - what would or could have happened, had we chosen something else.

An overly complicated obstacle, hurdle or problem can be overwhelming and quite difficult to address, overcome and solve. When there are multiple obstacles, group and break them down into smaller parts and deal with each one individually. If we can break an obstacle down into the smallest parts possible, this will assist us in understanding it better and then it is considerably easier to find possible solutions.

Tip… when you need to turn in many assignments to pass a class, focus on how many you have to do and deal with them one by one. Also, try to combine and solve obstacles together, whenever possible. Tip… if you're running out of time to study, try listening to a recorded lecture while walking to class or flipping through note cards as you're waiting for dinner.

Firstly, we have to determine and familiarize ourselves with the knowledge, facts and information we already have related to the obstacle that is confronting us. Secondly, we should identify what we are possibly lacking and might need. Then collect as many related data, information and facts as possible and categorize, organize or structure it in a meaningful manner by using mindmaps⁷⁾ for example.

Tip… if you’re trying to pass a cumulative test, figure out what you already know and what you need to study for. Review everything you already know, then start collecting and learning more information from your notes, textbook or any other resource that might assist you in doing so.

We must devise a Plan A and a Plan B (or more) so we’re not limitedplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigI.e. Restricted...

Having distinct or certain constraints that is limited in extent, number, scope or action. and locked into one specific solution or particular strategy.

Once we’ve come up with possible solutions, we should contemplateplugin-autotooltip__smallGive serious and careful thought to.... how each one might possibly play out. Seriously consider possible outcomes and how they could affect us and those around us. Create…

• best-case and
• worst-case

…scenarios in your imagination, and pay very-close attention to how these scenarios might affect, make you feel and possibly impact others in the short-, medium- and long term. Because properly thought-out scenarios allow us to make efficient use of the power of now when we productively seize the moment to make the best use of available windows of opportunity in a SMARTER, more sensible and wise manner.

The resources to our disposal could include one or more things such as time, money, effort, travel, …etc. When addressing and overcoming an obstacle is a top priority, we have to allocate more resources toward overcoming the obstacle (i.e. solve the problem) than we otherwise would. We must think about what resources we have, can currently allocate and would need to acquire in order to successfully deal with and overcomeplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigI.e. solving problems, addressing issues and handle wicked challenges. the obstacle.

Tip… if you have a deadline… you may temporarily skip cooking dinner or going to the gym so that you can allocate that time to complete your project. Cut down on unnecessary tasks whenever possible, appropriate and feasible. For example, we could get our groceries delivered to us, save on shopping time and then we can spend that “saved shopping time” on other more urgent tasks instead.

To successfully address, deal with and overcome obstacles - which we face daily - usually requires us to be creative, especially when confronted by wicked challenges.

This requires us to be and become more creative as we work on solving the obstacles that are experienced. However, it is not as easy as it may sound, and therefore it is necessary that we deliberately employ certain techniques that can be indicated as follows.

Brainstorm⁸⁾, think about and try different ways to approach and handle an obstacle. Knowing that there is more than one way to address and deal with an obstacle, often help us to realize that we have choices and some say in the matter. As a result, we do not feel so exposed, helpless and gain more confidence to initiate and do something about the obstacle we are confronted with.

Once we’ve thought ofplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigBy reading relevant articles or books, chatting with other people and digesting experiences, knowledge and ideas from various sources. and identify some alternatives, we should decide which ones are plausible, which ones could serve as a back-up when needed and which ones we should rather forget about. It is best advised that - when we’re making a complex decision - we should write down possible and alternative solution options, in this way, we will be less likely to forget any options and be able to cross off any options that aren’t currently plausible.

For example… you might be hungry and need something to eat. Think about whether you want to cook a meal yourself, get fast food, order takeout, have a sit-down dinner at a restaurant or a braaiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigTo grill or roast (meat) over open coals..

This is just a very simple and mundane example and most people believe that it does not apply to solve actual serious problems. This - on the surface - is true, and brainstorming everyday problems, can be considered an unnecessary waste of time. But practice makes perfect. If we frequently brainstorm simple problems, we systematically prepare ourselves to be able to brainstorm efficiently when necessary or required to do so. No one can successfully run a marathon, without some kind of preparation and exercise beforehand.

When you’re addressing and solving a straightforward obstacle (e.g. mainly a problem), then analytical or logical skills will aid you best. Other times - as in the case of an issue - you may need to rely on your emotions and feelings to guide you.

Often, obstacles require a balanced combination of thinking skills, our feelings and our gut to determine and implement a solution. Don't be afraid to utilize these ways of approaching obstacles, play around with them and see what works best.

An obstacle - such as accepting a job across the country that offers good pay, but takes you away from your family - often require many different ways of approaching it. Consider the logical solution, but also contemplate your thoughts, feelings and the way the decision might affect or impact others.

When the obstacle we are facing isn't an immediate crisis, consult and ask advice from other peopleplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigWhich may or may not include specialists such as life and career coaches, psychologists or psychiatrists.. Perhaps you know someone who has faced a similar obstacle in the past, who can contribute and provide some useful guidance and feedback to you. Whether we eventually follow their advice or not, is completely up to us. However, it can be helpful and valuable to gain a different perspective or insight.

For example… if you’re buying a house and you are not quite sure how to make your final decision, speak to other homeowners about their thoughts or regrets about buying a house.

When we are working toward a particular goal, we have to keep track of how things are coming along. When we’re making progress and going in a positive direction… keep going! But, if we realize that our approach isn’t the best way to go, then consider addressing the obstacle differently or using another strategy and determine some new ways to better address and overcome the obstacle (i.e. solve the problem).

For example… if you’re experiencing financial difficulties, notice how your efforts are affecting the money coming in and the money you’re spending. If keeping a budget helps, keep with it. If using cash exclusively is a headache, try something else. Keep a journal where you record your progress of successes, failures and challenges.

Granted, it often is quite a challenging and tricky business to properly manage the many emotions and various feelings - that we experience - constructivelyplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigHaving a role in deciding some thing’s final form in a way that has or is intended to have a useful or beneficial purpose., especially when and while we are confronting difficulties. With that said, we need to realize that if we are able to manage our emotions properly - although not a guarantee - it significantly improves our chances of successfully addressing any kind of obstacle. But the opposite is equally true, when our emotions run wild it significantly lowers our chances to successfully address any obstacle.

In essence, this is what emotional management is all about… to be able to compose ourselves in such a way that successful handling of obstacles can be more productive and to limit emotional liability to the absolute minimum.

Taking a decision, addressing or solving an obstacle can be extremely difficult when we feel anxious or nervous about how it will go and start to panic. When our fears are clouding our judgement and ability to address an obstacle, we should take a moment to regain our calmness.

To restore calmness, take a deep breath so that you feel centred and relaxed before moving forward with dealing with the obstacle. You can also take a walk or write in a journal. The goal being, to lessen fear and increase a sense of calm. The first step is often the scariest. Try doing something small to start with.

For example… when you're trying to become more active, start going for short walks daily. Avoid the temptation to immediately start an hour-long gym session three times a week. The latter - after a while - will only put unnecessary stress on you.

An obstacle encountered might have some underlying aspects that would be better to resolve first. When we’ve solved a similarplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigHaving traits, attributes and qualities in common. problem or issue in the past, and yet it keeps coming up, explore whether there may be some underlying causes, such as repetitive patterns for instance. If we address the obstacle in this way, the chances are relatively good that we might be able to overcome this obstacle for good.

For example… if you’re overwhelmed by having a long to-do list, maybe the actual obstacle isn’t the list, but an inability to say “NO” to things that you cannot fit in, given the current circumstances. Or when you're feeling stressed, angry or overwhelmed, you may be burned out. Make a list of things that cause stress or frustration in your life, specifically, those that seem to be “normal”. If possible, try to cut down on these in the future. If you start feeling overwhelmed again, it could be a sign that it is high time for you to reexamine and calibrate your current value system.

When we find that we are struggling - consistentlyplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigAlways, constantly, continually, forever, invariably and unfailingly, i.e. on every relevant occasion. to make decisions or doubting ourselves, even after we have successfully overcome an obstacle, it might be beneficial to cooperateplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigTo participate and/or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end. with a healing professionalplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigFor A coach, mentor, facilitator or psychologist for example..

For example… You might struggle with low self-esteem, which can make you doubt yourself or feel defeated. Your coach, mentor or facilitator can provide some insights, understanding and challenge you to regard yourself more positively and realistically (i.e. tweaking and calibrating your current PVC and Umwelt).

Creativity is a skill that we can work on with time, training and effort. There are many areas we can focus on to improve our overall creativity. We can engage in creative exercises such as reading, writing and listening to music to sharpen and tweak our creativity. We should also learn as much as possibleplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigIt implies that we learn as much as possible from a variety of sources... from history, physics, the arts, science, social studies, religion, other people, philosophy, politics, economics, ... etc.. and open ourselves up to new ideas and experiences. We might also wish to tweak or adjust our current lifestyle by walking more, exercising regularly and getting more sleep to provide our brain with the energy boost that it needs to increase our creative skills.

Creativity does not just happen overnight by chance, we have to deliberately work on it and practice it by constantly challenging ourselves with - amongst other things - the following…

You can do this exercise during dullplugin-autotooltip__smallTedious, uninteresting, boring... moments. It helps you to push yourself to think quickly and creatively. To start, draw 30 circles. From there, make as many circles into drawings as possible in one minute. You can do the exercise over and over again, trying to break your previous record each time. The 30 Circle exercise helps to boost creativity because it forces one to embrace multiple ideas simultaneously and many people have a tendency to self-edit and pause to wonder whether something is a good idea. The 30 Circle exercise forces one to think fast, and forces one to experiment with many ideas without rejecting them outrightly.

Doodlingplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigScribble - so to speak - absent-mindedly. is sometimes thought of as a childish pastime, but it can actually help increase creative productivity. Doodling can increase creativity by increasing one's engagement with the world and attention span. It helps one to remain engaged during activities where one would otherwise zone outplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigTo become oblivious to one's surroundings, especially in order to relax.. The more information we're able to absorb, the more creative we will become, especially during activities where one feel one's mind wandering. For example, when you find yourself drifting out of focus during a meeting at work, do some doodling. You can also doodle in school during boring lectures. Try keeping a sketchbook handy where you can doodle when you start to feel bored or disengaged.

Flash fiction means very short stories, often no more than 100 words. Writing a flash fiction story will help one to become more creative and expressive as one is forced to tell a story with a beginning, middle and end using only a limited number of words. This will help you to learn how to convey the necessary information accurately using a minimum of words. There are many flash fiction writing communities online. Try getting involved with a flash fiction writing community and responding to prompts and participating in contests. This will provide one with ample opportunity to practice the skill of conveying information and/or ideas accurately and concisely (e.g. an elevator pitch).

Simply playing music in the background can inspire you creatively. It can help you focus better and increase your overall concentration. Classical music tends to work particularly well for creativity and concentration. Not every genre of music works for everyone. While classical music has beneficial effects for many, experiment a little to find the music that bests helps you concentrate and feel creative.

Using your hands to create means you get information from all of your sensesplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSenses

We often take our senses for granted and seldom - if ever - think about the tremendous impact that our senses have on our efficiency to deal with our environments (both our internal and external worlds). Our senses are the “conduit” through which we relate to and interact with our surroundings. Apart from this, our senses are also instrumental in the development of our brainbrainbrainbrainbrainbrainbrainbrainbrainbrainbrain. This can help encourage more creative thinking. If you want to feel more creative, try activities in which you create using your hands. For example, try something like knitting, sewing, or other crafts to bolster your creativity.

Some video games are good for the creative mind. Interactive games that require movement as these stimulate multiple senses help with creative thinking. Things like Wii Tennis or Dance Dance Revolution would work well. Avoid games that require you to sit for long periods.

Reading is great for your creative mind. Make a habit of reading regularly. Pick books from multiple genres and styles of writing to expand your horizons and bolster your creativity. Try to make time to read every day. Try joining a book club. This will help direct your reading if you're unsure what kinds of books to start with. Get a library card. This will help you save some money on books.

Part of being creative is gaining expertise in one area or medium and learning as much as you can about it. Begin by reading articles and watching videos on the subject to gather more information about it. If possible, sign up for an introductory course at a local college or community centre (e.g. a beginner painting class). Inspire yourself by experiencing the creative works of others in a medium that interests you. For instance, if you are learning how to paint, visit a museum or art gallery.

The most creative people are willing to engage with multiple ideas, broaden their horizons, and be surprised. Avoid resisting and dismissing things that are unfamiliar to you, and accept opportunities to try new creative endeavours. For instance, attempt a medium like clay sculpting even if you believe that you will dislike it or be bad at it.

Being more childlike can help your creative side by freeing you from adult hang-ups for a while and opening your mind. Use toys and art supplies to stimulate your imagination and make new connections. If you're short on creative ideas, take the time to draw a whimsical picture or play with building blocks or Lego’s.

They say that you remember 90% of what you learned by teaching it to someone else. Explaining your newfound knowledge to yourself and others can help to cement it in your mind. While you are learning something new, make a point of explaining it to yourself in your head. Picture yourself giving a TED talk or tutoring someone on the topic. If you feel particularly confident, make a video about the topic to post online, or explain your knowledge to a friend or colleague.

Engage in activities that actively force you to think of new ideas. For instance, play word association games by writing down one word and then any words that connect to it. Use analogy to find similarities between two seemingly dissimilar things to break down and examine your associations with each. For instance, look for similarities between a textbook and an iPod. If you feel stuck, try some word association games or search for synonyms online.

Creativity takes practise, so set aside time each day to retreat to a quiet or inspiring place to generate new ideas. For instance, visit a quiet park or sit in a library and let your mind flow freely. Write all of your ideas (good or bad) in a notebook, on a whiteboard, or on your computer without stopping to edit or rethink them. Find a time that will work for you regularly. If you always have time after dinner, for example, take an hour after dinnertime to turn off distractions and engage with new ideas.

To give your creativity a jump-start, socialize as much as you can, particularly with people who are different from you. Spending time with people whose life experiences and worldviews are unlike yours can expand your mind and offer a fresh perspective on everyday things. To meet new people, attend events or do activities that are outside of your normal routine and engage in conversation whenever possible. For instance, if the art world is new to you, visit a gallery or museum and strike up a conversation with an artist or patron. Break the ice by saying something like, “I'm new to the art world. Is this a passion of yours?” Try varying your established routes to increase the chances you’ll meet new people.

Walking can provide you time to think over ideas by allowing you to zone out and engage with creative thoughts. Walking will also allow you to engage with new surroundings or nature, both of which may inspire your creativity. Make a point of walking several times a week for at least fifteen minutes, or every day if possible.

Exercising regularly can boost creativity by reducing stress and improving cognitive function. Create an exercise regimen for yourself to follow, aiming for about 30 minutes of exercise a day. Choose light cardiac exercise like walking, jogging or bicycling.

Sleep can help your mind stay rested and refreshed, leaving you creatively recharged. The brain is also very active during sleep, so “sleeping on an obstacle” may allow your mind to re-evaluate connections and formulate new ideas about an issue. Strive to get a solid 8 to 9 hours of sleep each night, and stay on a sleep schedule.

Food is good to have in a balanced manner.

Life doesn't always hand us solutions to go with the obstacles we encounter. If you're in a pinch, sometimes all you need is a bit of creativity to get through it. Being resourceful implies overcoming obstacles with what you have and doing more with less. Here are a few general suggestions on how to be resourceful.

Redefine what is and is not possible. You have unique talents that you can leverage to fulfil your goals right now. Considering new possibilities is critical to taking action that will lead to success. Being open-minded means you are willing to find value in the people, events and things you come across. Embrace different possibilities, opportunities, people, views, suggestions and experiences. Recognize that you can learn from things that are new or different. When you can think outside of the box, you can come up with innovative solutions to obstacles that others can't. Say, “Yes, I can do this,” and push yourself to do what others might think is impossible. This is how people attain success when others give up on their dreams. Get out of your comfort zone and expand your horizons. If you have never been to a different country, tried a certain food, learned another language, tried to write a book or go skydiving, then do it. You may discover something along the way that makes your life better and helps you solve an obstacle.

You are capable of handling any obstacle. You already have everything you need to solve it—you! Recognizing that you are competent and adequate to do something is the first step to getting it done. Self-confidence means you like and trust yourself. Appreciate your talents, abilities and good attributes. Know that you can problem-solve and find solutions to challenges. Visualize being successful every day. When difficulties come your way, picture yourself overcoming them. Imagine accomplishing your goals and celebrating your successes. Accept compliments and praise. Know that you deserve them. Keep a diary of your successes. Write down your achievements every day. Soon you will fill the pages of this book and be able to see how much you have done. This will go a long way to help you realize you have earned the right to be confident.

Resourcefulness is about optimizing what you have to work with. Creativity is not just about creating something new but making old things work better as well.[3] Think of crazy possibilities as well as practical ones. You might find inspiration for a workable solution in one of your ideas. Think about how an experienced mechanic can do amazing things with after-market parts and a little ingenuity. The mechanic probably won’t follow a manual but can diagnose obstacles based on symptoms and decide what tools and materials they have on hand to overcome the obstacle. Be like this mechanic in your situation. Let your mind wander. Don't stop yourself from thinking something because you think it is irrelevant. Often, your thoughts will move from one idea to another and then another. You may discover an Aha! moment or insight in one of these ideas.

Don’t put your dreams on hold because you’re waiting for the right resources or people to show up. If you let circumstances determine when and how you act, you will always settle for less. If an opportunity presents itself, do your best to take it. Don't overthink the opportunity or talk yourself out of it. Be more than an idle observer. Participate actively and get involved. Being proactive means taking initiative so you can be part of any solution. Don’t simply react to events, people, challenges and information. Engage and influence them so you can make real contributions to the situation.

If you stop trying before the obstacle is resolved, then you haven't accomplished anything. Try again, a dozen or a hundred different ways, if that's what it takes. Don't give up. Think about what motivates you. Determine why you want to accomplish something and use that knowledge to drive you to finish. Develop discipline. Many things will get in the way of your goal. If you practice discipline and make it a habit to do what needs to get done despite obstacles, you will reach your goal. Never consider not succeeding right away as a failure – consider it practice, instead.

There is almost always a solution to an obstacle. See the positive in every situation. Once you develop the right attitude, it is easier to find a solution. Think of all the times you dealt with a crisis or difficult situation and the success stories that arose from those rough times. Know that you can get through it. This is the attitude resourceful people have when trouble comes their way. Remember that each time you overcome an obstacle, you become a better and stronger person. Experiences teach us things that we can pass on to others who need encouragement. Improve yourself. Learn new things, and try to keep up with what is happening around you. Even when you become successful, learning continues and provides enrichment to your life. Learn to accept and encourage other people as well. Identify your challenges and fears so that you can work on improving or overcoming them. If you want to improve a skill (from getting better at math to becoming more assertiveplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigAssertive Behaviour

We desire something, honestly acknowledge to ourselves that and why we want it, and - for the most part - try to obtain it. We act openly with others, but strongly and persistently try to get what we want for ourselves. We feel self-interested and self-enhancing. We value other people’s values and goals but often prefer our own somewhat to theirs. We are active and expressive. to learning to throw and catch a baseball), consider what concrete action you might take to grow in this area. You could take a class at a community college to get better at math, you might buy a book on how to be assertive, or you might work with a trainer or athletic friend to help you improve your game of catch.

You can't anticipate everything, but you can predict many possible obstacles. The more you prepare ahead of time, the more resources you'll have when faced with an obstacle. Build a tool kit and learn to use it. The more tools you have to draw on when met with a challenge, the more resourceful you can be. Depending on where you spend your time, the tools at your disposal could take the form of a true tool kit, or they could go in a purse, a survival kit, a workshop, a kitchen, an equipment truck or even your selection of camping gear. Learn to use your tools. Then, make sure you have them with you when you need them. Practice at home. If you don't know how to change a tire, try it in your driveway before you get a flat miles away from home, in the dark, in the rain. Learn to pitch your tent in the backyard or take a short day hike to get used to your backpacking gear. Refine both your tool kit and your skills before you must put them to the test. Anticipate likely obstacles and deal with them before they become dilemmas. If you worry that you might forget your keys and lock yourself out, hide a spare key in the backyard. Attach your keys to something large and visible so you don't lose them. Coordinate with others who are coming and going so you don't accidentally lock each other out. Practice being resourceful before the pressure is on. Try cooking a meal with whatever is on hand in the pantry rather than going out to the store. Invent what you need instead of buying it. Build or create your own, even if something is ready-made and available.

Your life is made up of time, and time is a limited resource. If you have time, use it for something productive. Make each moment matter so that it contributes in some way to your end goals. Depending on the situation you need to overcome, you may need to work longer hours, ask for more time, enlist the time of others, or implement temporary measures while you can develop something more permanent. Minimize distractions and interruptions. If you can control the things that get in the way of your goal, limit them. There is a time for work and for play. Remember to do both and focus on what you are doing at the time. Don't take phone calls or chat while doing work. Turn off the TV. Likewise, don't let work stress seep into your time out with friends and family. Remember to be patient. Time is important but some things take time to happen as well. Ask the patience of others.

Decide whether there is someone you could contact who might know the answer, be able to solve or lend a hand for a certain obstacle before it happens. Talk about possibilities ahead of time. Imagine scenarios with knowledgeable or experienced people and brainstorm solutions with limited resources. Human contacts can be collected as a resource in advance. Networking, formal or informal, is one way to create that collection of resources. If possible, offer others favours before you need to ask for any yourself. Engage with others and get to know and help them when they need it. This will increase the chance that someone will be there for you.

Money can be a powerful asset in some situations. If you don't have money and you need it, being resourceful may consist of thinking of creative ways to raise or earn it. Also, consider solving the obstacle without money as well. Ask people for money. Offer to do something in return so that the money is earned. You can hold a fundraiser if you are seeking to raise money for a good cause. Get a job. Earning regular money is important to have a steady source of this resource. Look at the skills you have and see if you can apply them to any open positions in your area. Search online sites such as Monster.com or LinkedIn for jobs that match your qualifications. Also, search your local newspaper's classified section for places that are hiring. If there is a certain position or company you want to work for, look at their website or go in and ask what open positions are available. Go back to school. This may be a longer route to obtaining money but if your end goal is to earn a decent salary, then this may be the best option for you.

When a challenging situation comes your way, try to clarify and define the obstacle as best you can. It is easy to get overwhelmed by emotion, confabulate the obstacle and lose sight of solutions. When you can determine what the real issue is, you can come up with a plan to improve it. Think about the obstacle. How severe is it? Is this truly a crisis or merely an inconvenience or a setback? Does it need to be addressed immediately, or can it wait for an appropriate solution to be developed? The more urgent the situation, the more creative you'll have to be. Ask yourself what the nature of the obstacle is. What is essentially needed? For instance, do you need to unlock the door, or do you need to get in or out? These are two different obstacles since the latter might be accomplished by passing through a window, by climbing over or under a wall, by going around the back way or by removing the hinge pins in the door. For that matter, do you need access at all, or could you get what you need somewhere else? Don't panic. Pressure may be a good motivator, but not if it's clouding your thinking. Think about why you can't just give up on this and that will give you the edge for the persistence you need to succeed. Finding a solution to the obstacle is better than worrying. This can be learned by training your mind to focus on solutions each time you start worrying. Calm yourself first, think clearly before taking any action.

Being resourceful is, above all, about being clever and finding creative use of your current resources. Do you have access to, or could you obtain, anything that might help with the situation? Don't forget that resources aren't all objects—consider skills, people or emotional states as well. Try working backwards. Take stock of what you have available, including objects, resources, knowledge, people and opportunities. Then consider how you can apply it to the obstacle.

Resourceful people seek challenges to overcome, goals to achieve and a dream to work toward. Meet small daily objectives that add up to your larger dream. Over time, you will get closer and closer to making your dream a reality. Keep in mind that every day is a chance for you to influence what you want your life to be. Remember to be happy with the life you have now and recognize your progress. Your life today is important because no one knows what might happen tomorrow. Keep one eye on your goals but enjoy the here and now. Start small. Everyone starts with something, no matter how small. Small results will grow with time and continued effort. If it's money you need, save what is available now as often as you can. Even regular smaller contributions will make a big difference a year later. Follow through. You won’t know how it’s going to turn out unless you see it through to find out what the results will be.

Thinking about the bigger picture can give you perspective… but, sometimes you need to focus on details or steps instead. Decide what you can do in the short term so you can take action and be more productive. Revise specific tasks, roles and responsibilities toward your goals, such as simplicity, savings or risks. Seek information. Has somebody overcome a similar obstacle before? How does the thing (or system or situation) work that you are trying to deal with? Which way is home from here? Whom can you contact, and how? What steps do you need to take to build a fire? Researching and reading are very helpful. Keeping up with important events and information can help you in the future. Focus on something you find interesting or useful and look for different links that are related to the topic or idea so that you can master it. Mine your resources. Know the difference between seeking resources and being resourceful. When the tools and resources you need are within your reach, things tend to work out. Being resourceful means you make the most of the resources you can find. Recognize that you don’t know it all. Be prepared to learn from others, even from someone you think wouldn’t know something you don’t.

Use things in unconventional ways or go against conventional wisdom or societal norms, if it will help. Be prepared to take responsibility, redress wrongs or explain yourself if you do overstep your bounds. Rules exist for a reason, but sometimes rules and tradition can hold back progress. Accomplish things, don’t just go along with how things have always been done. Never apologize for your success. The trick is to make sure that any infractions are insignificant compared to the benefit. There are going to be times when you should apologize, but do it only for true offences.

Don't box yourself into thinking a certain way. Use what you can for a temporary solution and then look for a permanent solution. Fix your bike just enough so you can get home and properly fix it later. Experiment. Trial and error might take a while, but if you have no experience with a particular situation, it's a very good way to begin. At the very least, you will learn what does not work. Adapt. Nothing is written in stone when it comes to solutions. Look at other examples to get inspiration but make your solution fit your particular situation. Turn challenges into advantages. Don't be afraid to use objects in unconventional ways. Wire coat hangers can be incredibly flexible and while screwdrivers aren't intended for chiselling, prying, pounding, scraping, …etc., they'll often do in a pinch. Don’t forget about the value of intangibles. Sunlight, gravity and goodwill can all act in your favour and can even be harnessed to your advantage.

There are negatives and positives to every situation. Try not to focus on what is wrong or bad about it. Look at the bright side and see what you can do right now with the positive aspects. If you missed the bus and the next one doesn't come for another hour, can you enjoy a cup of coffee or browse a nearby store while you wait? If the weather is freezing, could you use snow as shelter or ice as a building material? If you are afraid, use fear to motivate you. It will drive you to get out of a bad situation. Harness that energy to think of a solution and take action. Emotions can be strong incentives to do things better and more efficiently, so use them wisely.

Often an effective solution hinges on a speedy response. Be decisive, and once a decision is made, don't analyse–just act. You can’t solve an obstacle without taking some sort of action first. Remember that not making decisions costs you, whether it results in lost earnings or revenue, a less than stellar reputation or career obstacles. Empty inboxes and desks that are not covered in piles of unfinished paperwork are signs of making quick decisions and taking action. When something comes your way, take care of it right away instead of letting it linger. Making quick decisions about small matters is incredibly beneficial. Not only does it help you keep on top of everything sent your way, but it also reduces stress, improves productivity and gives you a great reputation for managing your work. Let the positive aspects of quick decision-making be motivating factors for doing what needs to be done now. Start somewhere. Putting off what you know needs to be done is not conducive to reaching your goal. Take the first step by initiating the action needed to finish that task. Then move on to another.

If you had to scramble to overcome an obstacle, take steps to make sure that it doesn't happen again. If you tried something that didn't work, try it a different way next time. See what went wrong and go from there. Play a few hands at once. Realize that sometimes your plan might not work out. Work on multiple angles for the same obstacle. Have a plan B and C ready.

Recognize when you need help to complete your goals. Swallow your pride and seek out people who can assist with the obstacle you are confronted with. The more you show people that working with you will also help advance their goals, the more likely you'll succeed. Whether you need bus fare to get home, good ideas, moral support, the use of a phone or simply extra hands, involve others if you can. Even if you end up asking the help of strangers, you will probably be pleasantly surprised by the results. Brainstorming together may result in some great, joint solutions. Ask people you know and trust. Seek professional help. If it's appropriate, ask anybody in charge (authorities, employees, docents, ushers), since these people often have access to additional resources. If one or two people are not enough, find out if you could form a team or task force. Could you persuade city hall or another organization to further your cause?

Leonardo da Vinci is historically regarded as the ultimate Renaissanceplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigRenaissance...

Renaissance is a French word meaning “//rebirth//”, It refers to a period in European civilization that was marked by a revival of classical learning and wisdom. The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political and economic “rebirth” following the Middle or Dark Ages and promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature and art. man. Leonardo was an accomplished scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and writer. Whenever you want to re-evoke and cultivate curiosity, creativity or scientific modes of thinking, using Leonardo Da Vinci as a role model, is an excellent idea to practiceplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigA customary, habitual or expected procedure or way of doing of something thinking like one of the greatest masters of the mind.

Genuine innovation requires that we, like Leonardo Da Vinci, question the accepted answers to complicated questions and actively form our own opinions and observations about the world that we inhabit. Leonardo trusted his senses and intuition over the “wisdom” of others - both contemporary and historical - relying on himself and his own experience of the world to form his world view. For him, curiosity meant both looking forward and looking back and looking beyond the accepted collective wisdom of the times, to explore the ways of ancient civilizations, studying Greek and Roman texts and philosophical modes of thought, the scientific method and art.

Tip: Examine an angle of a particular issue, concept or topic that you feel passionate about, from the opposing point of view of your own. Even when you're confident that you “understand” what makes a painting great, or how a string quartet is put together, or you know everything there is to know about the state of the polar ice caps. Make it your business to deliberately seek out dissenting opinions and alternative ideas. Make an argument for the opposite of what you believe. Play devil's advocate.

A curious and creative thinker won't hide in the comfortable blanket of safe opinions, but will mercilessly seek truth, even at the risk of being completely and totally wrong. Let our curiosity and enthusiasm for topics rule our minds, not the fear of being wrong. Embrace mistakes as opportunities to learn, and think and act in such a way as to risk making them. Greatness risks failure. Leonardo Da Vinci enthusiastically studied physiognomy, a bogus science that supposedly links facial features and character. Now thoroughly debunked, it was a trendy concept in Leonardo's day and might've contributed significantly to his innovative interest in our understanding of detailed anatomy. Though we might think of this as “wrong” it's better to think of it as a kind of mucky stepping stone to a greater truth.

Tip: Find a dated, debunked or controversial idea and learn everything you can about it. Consider what it would mean to see the world in this alternative way. Look into the Brethren of the Free Spirit, the Hell's Angels or the Harmony Society, and learn about their worldview and the historical context of their organization. Were they - or are they - wrong, or is there some kind of truth to their point of view?

The curious thinker embraces the unknown, the mysterious, the magic and the frightening. To learn about anatomy, Leonardo spent countless hours studying corpses in less-than-sterile conditions, compared to the modern cadaver lab. His thirst for knowledge far outweighed his squeamishness and led to his pioneering study of the human body and his life drawings.

Tip: Research and explore a topic that frightens you. Filled with dread about the end of the world? Research eschatology and apocalypse. Scared of vampires? Dig up the dirt on Vlad the Impaler. Is nuclear war always giving you nightmares? Learn about J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project.

To think curiously means to look for patterns in ideas and images, identifying similarities that link disparate concepts, rather than their differences. Leonardo Da Vinci could never have designedplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigDa Vinci – scientist, engineer, architect, artist – was ahead of his time, a brilliant visionary, But he didn't invent the bicycle. He designed diving suits, a bicycle and a car 500 years before they could even be built. The bicycle, is almost exactly, like our modern version. the “mechanical horse” that eventually became the modern bicycle, without having linked seemingly unrelated concepts, such as horse-riding and simple gears. We should try to discover common ground in our interpersonal interactions, and look for the things that we can relate to about an idea, issue or point of view, the things we can take from it, rather than writing it off as completely wrong and utter nonsense.

Tip: Close your eyes and randomly draw squiggles or lines on a page, then open your eyes and finish the drawing you started. Look into the nonsense and make sense of it. Generate a list of “off the top of your head” words and put them all into the same poem or story, looking for a narrative in the chaos.

The curious thinker is unsatisfied with received wisdom and accepted answers, and chooses instead, to either validate those accepted answers with real-life observations and perceptions or form new opinions based on his/her experiences of the world. Of course, this doesn't mean that we can't validate the existence of Australia because we haven't seen it ourselves, but rather that we choose to abstain from an opinion about it, until such a time that we've learned everything we can about it and experienced that knowledge for ourselves.

Tip: Think of a time your opinion was swayed by someone or something. It could be as simple as changing your opinion about a movie you kind of liked because all your friends felt the opposite way and you preferred to fit in. Go back and re-examine that movie with a fresh set of eyes.

Sometimes the simplest questions are the most complex. How does a bird fly? Why is the sky blue? These are the kinds of questions that drove Leonardo Da Vinci to his innovative genius and scientific study. It was insufficient for Da Vinci to hear “Because God wills it” when the answer was much more complicated and much less abstract. Learn to form probing questions about the things that interest you and test them to obtain results.

Tip: Write down at least five questions about a subject that fascinates you, and that you'd like to know more about. Instead of doing a cursory Wikipedia search of the topic and then forgetting the matter completely, select a single question from that list and sit with it for at least a week. How do mushrooms grow? What is coral? What is a soul? Research it at the library. Write about it. Draw about it. Think about it.

When you've started to form your own opinion about a particular topic or question, when you think you're getting close to a satisfactory answer, determine what criteria would be sufficient to either accept or reject that answer. What would prove you were right? What would prove you were wrong? How can you test your idea?

Tip: Come up with a testable theory for your probing question and set up an examination, using the scientific method. Gather some substrate and grow your own mushrooms to learn more about different methods, techniques and varieties.

The scientific thinker interrogates ideas until all avenues of thought have been prodded at, examined, verified, or rejected. Leave no avenue of inquiry untouched. Regular thinkers often get attached to one of the first pleasing options or answers, ignoring the more interesting or complicated questions that might be more accurate. If you want to think like Leonardo Da Vinci, leave no stone unturned in your search for truth.

Tip: Practice mind mapping. A powerful tool that can help you combine logic and imagination in your work and life, the result of mapping should be a web-like structure of words and ideas that are somehow related in your mind, making it easier to remember all the nooks and crannies of your thoughts, failure and success alike. Mind mapping can improve memory, reading retention, and creativity.

A scientist embraces failed experiments in the same way that a scientist embraces successful ones: an option has been eliminated from the list of possibilities, getting you one step closer to some truth. Learn from hypotheses that turn out to be wrong. If you were sure that your new way of structuring a workday, writing a story, or rebuilding your engine would be perfect, and it turned out not to be so, celebrate! You completed an experiment and learned what won't work next time.

Tip: Think back to a particular failure. List all the things you learned from it, what you'll be able to do more effectively as a direct result of that failure.

Much of what we now celebrate as priceless art was just Leonardo Da Vinci's daily sketchbook, which he recorded not because he was actively trying to make a masterpiece, but because the creative act was integrated to such a degree in his everyday life that it became the way he processed thoughts, writing them down with accompanying illustrations. Writing forces you to think differently, articulating your nebulous thoughts as specifically and concretely as possible.

Tip: Come up with a list of topics on which you'll thoroughly journal for a day. Big topics you've got opinions about, like “television” or “Bob Dylan” would be perfectly appropriate. Start addressing the issue by writing at the top of the page, “On Dylan” and writing, drawing, and free-associating your way through the writing. If you come to a place you're unsure about, do some research. Learn more.

Cultivate a rich vocabulary and use accurate words in your descriptions. Use similes, metaphors, and analogies to capture abstract concepts and seek connections between your ideas, continually investigating the role of your thoughts. Describe things in terms of tactile senses–touch, smell, taste, feel–and also in terms of their import, their symbolism as you're experiencing them, and their significance.

Tip: Read Charles Simic's poem “Fork”. In it, he describes the most pedestrian and everyday objects both accurately and with the strangest of eyes.

One of Leonardo's mottoes was saper vedere (knowing how to see), upon which he built his work in arts and science. While you're journaling, develop a sharp eye for seeing the world and turn it into luminous particularities. Write down images you see throughout the day, striking things, bits of graffiti, gestures, strange shirts, strange bits of language, anything that strikes you. Record it. Become an encyclopaedia of tiny moments and record those moments in words and images.

Tip: You don't have to journal like it was the 15th century. Use your camera phone to take lots of pictures on the way to work to liven up your commute. Make yourself actively seek out 10 striking images on your way and take pictures of them. On your way home, look back through the morning pictures and think about what it was that struck you. Look for the connections in the chaos.

Leonardo Da Vinci is the Platonic ideal of the Renaissance Man: equally notable as a scientist, artist, and inventor, Leonardo would be doubtless confused and frustrated by modern notions of a “career”. It's hard to imagine him sullenly carting off to work at an office, putting in his hours and going home to watch “House of Cards”. If you're interested in a subject or a project that's outside of your everyday experiences, call that an opportunity rather than a challenge. Embrace the luxury of modern life for the instantaneous access we have to information, the freedom we have to pursue experiences, and the limitlessness of it.

Tip: Write up a bucket list of subjects and projects you want to accomplish over the next several months or years. Always wanted to get a draft of a novel together? Or learn banjo? There's no sense in waiting for it to happen. It's never too late to learn.