Have you tried problem solving exercises before and found that they didn’t work for you? Or do you feel that you need to find ways of coping with difficult situations in daily life that seem to overwhelm you? What I am about to suggest to you may sound crazy, but keep reading and open your mind to something different. The fact that you are reading this article suggests that there are issues in your life that you are having difficulty with, and you are seeking some ideas in dealing with them.

Of all the problem solving exercises that you might try, I believe this one may be the most effective: Stop trying to find answers to your problems! This may be a little hard to accept; many of us are taught from childhood that problem solving is practically next in line to cleanliness and godliness. Unfortunately, we tend to create such stress in our lives by constantly worrying about what’s wrong, and trying to figure out how to fix it by allowing our minds to run around in endless circles.

Can you imagine a headless chicken actually getting anywhere? That is what our minds resemble when we try too hard to find an answer and find it quick. What we need to learn to do instead, is to allow ideas to come to us. We need to stop thinking so hard. The more we think, the more we clutter our minds and block the flow of inspiration and creativity that comes from our higher selves and the universe.

Creativity is one of the most important factors in problem solving. The very fact that something has become a problem in our lives simply means that our usual ways of handling situations isn’t working in this case. This is where we need to allow ourselves to be creative in learning how to deal with our current issue, and as you may have noticed, a stressed and busy mind is usually not very creative.

It is such a habit to want to come up with an answer when we feel that there is a question or problem in our lives. We feel unhappy with a certain situation, or feel there is something that we ‘should’ be doing and our minds start racing to ‘fix’ it. We look for answers, any answers, because an unanswered question creates fear and uncertainty.

To think of using problem solving exercises that focus on getting our minds away from the problem goes against the grain for most of us. It can be very uncomfortable to know that there is something that we want to achieve, and to just sit back and open our hearts and our minds for messages about how to achieve our goal. We think we need to find the answer, when in fact, what we need to do is to stop our busyness long enough for the answer to find us.

The trouble with a lot of problem solving exercises is that they focus only on logic and thought, and don’t encourage us to step out of our own road and listen to the whispers of our hearts and souls.

Slowing down is incredibly difficult for so many of us. We push ourselves to be busy, busy, busy. Always rushing somewhere and doing something. It seems that if we stop, our world will stop turning. How many of us drive ourselves to the point of exhaustion, mentally and physically? We feel that we ‘can’t’ take a break until our bodies step in and force us to give ourselves the rest we need by becoming ill.

While it is difficult to learn, and remember, to slow down in our fast-paced world, it is extremely important. Our physical, mental and emotional well-being depends on it, as does our ability to function well in our daily lives. When it comes to finding clarity in our lives and our choices, a still, calm mind is our greatest asset.

When we dwell on a problem or challenge in our lives, we generally tend to close our minds, and focus on a very narrow and repetitive view of the situation and possible solutions. We need problem solving exercises that can take our minds off the situation, and help us step back from our short-sighted view of how things are and what we think could or should be done about them.

Have you ever had a problem weighing on your mind, and then had the solution pop into your head at the time when you finally gave yourself a chance to stop thinking about it? Maybe you took a break from your worrying, and went to see a hilarious movie, and on the drive home, in a flash of blinding clarity, realized what you needed to do about your dilemma without any conscious thought. Or perhaps you went for a jog, and while you were physically active, mentally relaxed, and admiring the beautiful sunset, you received inspiration.

For some really effective problem solving exercises, try vigorous exercise, meditation, getting away from it all in nature, singing at top volume to some favorite music, or watching a hilarious movie. Before you start these activities, consciously hand the problem you have been dwelling on over to your higher self, and ask to receive clarity and perspective. Then stop thinking about it, and throw yourself into whatever you have chosen to do. Have fun!

Later when your mind is in a relaxed state, take some quiet time to sit and listen for any guidance or intuition you may be receiving. Then, if something feels right, take action. Don’t start analyzing again, or your mind will simply start running rings around you. Go with your strong inner knowing, even if it only appeared for a moment. Give strength to that message by recognizing it and acting on it- even if your action is a tiny step in a positive direction.

An overactive mind is cluttered and messy. It has no space to receive messages of insight and inspiration. The best thing we can do in any situation is to learn ways of stilling our minds, at least for a while each day. A still mind is clear and open, and ready to receive and recognize the wisdom that is always available to us when we step back and allow ourselves to just listen.

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