EFFECTIVE THINKING

While positive thinking allows your mind to accept new ideas and creative thoughts, effective thinking involves directing your thoughts toward specific goals. Daydreaming, relaxation, and free association allow the mind to come up with new or unusual ideas or idea fragments.

Have a Goal for Your Creative Thinking

Without a specific goal in mind, random thoughts and ideas may not be particularly useful. Gerald Kushel, Ed.D., is the author of several books, including Effective Thinking for Uncommon Success. In a 1991 interview for Bottom Line Personal newsletter, Dr. Kushel says that to be an effective thinker, you need to have goals and a commitment to those goals. He outlines four steps toward effective thinking:


1.Take Notice. Take stock of where you are or what you are doing. Is it moving you toward your goal?

2.Pause. Take a break when you get off-track.

3.Identify Effective Thoughts. When a thought enters your head, identify it as effective or defective, positive or negative.

4.Choose. We can choose our thoughts. It's the underlying premise of positive thinking. It's true of effective thinking and creative thinking, as well. Choose to focus on those thoughts that bring you closer to your goals.
Identify Your Creative Challenge. Applied to creative thinking, effective thinking means clearly defining what creative challenge you need to meet. Do you want a new business name? Are you looking for an unmet need to turn into a business? Are you trying to come up with an exciting or unusual direct mail piece within a limited budget? Whatever the challenge, direct your thoughts and activities toward that goal. Gather materials that will help you accomplish your goal.

The right time and place and effective thinking only work if given an opportunity to do so. Creative thinking takes determinition, perservence.


Think Backwards to Think Creatively and Generate IDEAS