Thinking Skills Part 6

Ask yourself, what is possible? What could happen?

Look for possibilities by temporarily suspending judgment. DonÕt limit yourself to thinking about what is most likely to happen. Instead, consider what could happen, no matter how outrageous.

For example, suppose you go out to the garage and find that your car battery is dead and the vehicle won’t start. How can you deal with the situation? Well, the most likely solution would be to ask your neighbor to jump-start your car, then drive to the auto repair shop and get your electrical system checked. But consider the other possibilities: buying a new car, calling a taxi, riding your bicycle, joining a carpool, hiring a limousine and driver, taking the bus, telecommuting, buying a new battery and installing it yourself.

Why should you consider all these other possibilities, when the most “practical” answer is just to jump-start your car? You consider the possibilities, not so much for their own sake, but rather for what they will reveal about your situation. Perhaps this is the sixth major problem with your car in the last three months, and it really would be in your best interest to get a new car. Perhaps you could use some more exercise, and riding your bicycle might be a good idea on days when the weather permits. Perhaps you are so productive that it would pay you to hire a driver so you could get more work done while commuting to and from the office. Considering other possibilities does not preclude you from taking the most sensible course of action.

The point is to open your mind to other ideas. A habit of considering the possibilities will prevent you from getting stuck in a rut. Practice making yourself aware of what is possible.

Stimulate the senses

Researchers have found that sensory stimulation creates electrical activity in the brain, and this accelerates the formation of pathways between brain cells. These pathways, called dendrites, are the basis for intelligence. The more, the better. We are born with a fixed number of brain cells, but there is no limit to the number of connecting pathways that can be created.

This is why many experts recommend exposing unborn children to movement and music while they are still in the womb.

Have you ever noticed that you just seem to think better after a stimulating experience: listening to music, hiking through a beautiful wilderness area, traveling to a new place, feeling the cold wind on your face, tasting a new food, driving through a snowstorm, smelling fresh bread baking.

Our senses deliver complex, dynamic information that challenges us to interpret it. And our minds respond to the challenge with growth. Stimulation builds our sensory vocabulary and adds to our range of experience.

People who have become successful in life very often have homes or offices with magnificent views. Is this just an extravagance, or simply for the purpose of impressing people? Well, yes, in some cases. But remember, people don’t usually get to be successful by being extravagant or showy. Many successful people instinctively realize the importance of a stimulating environment, of being able to look out the window and see a complex, ever-changing panorama. On the surface, the magnificent view might be considered a wasteful extravagance. But in the day to day experience of life, it could indeed be a valuable source of stimulation and inspiration.

Make it a point to stimulate your senses every day, and not always with the same old stuff. Remember to see new sights, taste new food, listen to new sounds, move in different ways — seek out sensations and experiences that are new and challenging.
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