Solving every day or long-term problems at home or work can lead to stressful mindsets that could develop into physical illnesses. What follows are some of the most tried-and-tested ways to cut anxiety and arrive at healthy solutions.
Make a List of a Problem’s Pros and Cons; Use Mind Maps
Whether paper or a word processor is used, seeing a list of positives and negatives about a difficult situation can make a decision become much clearer. Seeing data in black and white helps organize thoughts and guarantees that no details are forgotten. Perhaps better than a list, the use of Mind Maps™ gives a visual picture of problems and possible solutions.
Mind Maps are reminiscent of parts-of-speech, sentence diagramming that begins with a circled problem or topic that has subheadings radiating out from the center. Clarity and focus draw closer with the use of single words or simple phrases, colors, images and cross-links. This tool supports a creative yet simplified way of finding promising solutions to a problem.
Sleep and Dreams Help to Work Out Problems
A Harvard Medical School neuroscientist, Robert Stickgold, conducted recent research that found individuals with a recently learned task – a computer game with a maze – who dreamed during a nap, had much better performance of the task upon waking. He speculates that an area of the brain, the hippocampus, strengthens the memories and important steps of the task – the problem – thereby sorting out facts for better problem-solving ability.
The researcher suggests that dreaming is an important part of learning and actually a side effect of the brain arranging important memories. Traditionally, many people have used the saying "sleep on it" to help with the resolution to a problem. Many individuals have had experiences where sleeping and dreaming actually provide a solution to a problem upon waking.
Brainstorm With Others; Think Out of the Box
Friends and relatives can provide alternative thinking about a tough problem. Brainstorming brings creative, even quirky, potential solutions to a problem, and breaks up one’s own stagnant thinking. Moreover, others’ support helps bring a better mood; smoothing over anxiety that can block arrival of solutions. Linus Pauling said, “The best way to get a good idea is to get a lot of ideas.”
Rework a Problem; Use Appreciative Inquiry
Sometimes an identified problem, such as getting a child to hang-up/fold clothes scattered around a bedroom, is really a problem just from a parent’s point of view. An approach called appreciative inquiry focuses on positive solutions – instead of a created problem – to guide one’s thinking in a constructive way about what worked in the past and how it might work in the future. Optimistic images can lead to upbeat actions.
For example, closing the bedroom door, for an out-of-sight-out-of-mind situation, minimizes the problem. Alternatively, remembering that a prior reward, like a movie, brought clothes organization in the past, focuses on previous cooperative results. Often a so-called problem is really an opportunity for learning, support and teamwork.
Reference:
Buzan, Tony. The Mind Map Book: How to Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain's Untapped Potential. New York: Penquin Books, 1993.
Arlene Lengyel - Arlene is a graduate of Clayton College of Natural Health with a Doctor of Naturopathy degree. Naturopathy promotes an all-inclusive, ...
