SELF-IMPROVEMENT

By Darnell T. Glover

“A child can ask questions that a wise man or woman cannot answer!”

● Page 3 ..... ten Steps To Clear Thinking● Page four ...... seven Blocks To Creative Thinking And How To Solve

Them Creativity And Rebellion! Why They Go Hand-In-Hand?

● Page 5 … Create Your Destiny● Page 6 Manifest Your Dreams● Page 7 Being First, Being Original, Being Innovative● Page 8 Achieving Success And Progress Through Creative

Thinking Connect With Your Body

● Page 9 How To Remember Things Developing Intuition

Table of Contents

© 2013 Publish by Darnell T. Glover Publishing Company All Rights Reserved

In this 21st centaury we have move away from all the very important things thatcreate creative thinking human beings. The whole meaning of family and love nolonger excise, Our children are running wild seeking more attention then mosttime will allow. The public schools no longer teaching our students how to thinkbut has started teaching them what to think in many ways. We are moving into asociety that is losing control of their mind and thinking powers and allowing oth-ers to think and define who and what they are.

This Self Improvement E book was put together by our publisher Darnell T.Glover to help others in their motivation of becoming more successful in theirlives.

Try some of these ten ways to clearer thinking. Makeone or two of them a habit, and you'll have morebrainpower permanently.

Does your mind sometimes feel like a televisionstation you can't quite tune in? You know there's aninteresting program on - or several, but everything ismixed with static. What if you could "tune in" at will,have clear thinking whenever you want it? Try someof the following.

Ten Clear Thinking Techniques And Tips

1. Take a walk. Science will eventually prove this tobe a great way to improve the quality of your thinking,but don't wait for the proof. Aren't there enough otherreasons to take a walk anyhow?

2. Stay away from sugar. If you want to understandwhat brain fog is, eat a sugary donut on an emptystomach, then do math problems twenty minuteslater. What you will experience, along with the "sugarblues," is brain fog. At least lay off sugar and simplecarbohydrates when you need to think clearly.

3. Organized space means clear thinking. It's rarethat a person can actually work better in clutter.Organised working space means you won't have thethought "where is that..." distracting your mind.

4. Get better sleep. Sleep requirements vary, but theminimum for most is somewhere around five hours.Some suffer if they sleep less than eight hours. Theresearch, however, indicates that after a certainminimum quantity, the quality of sleep is moreimportant to normal brain function.

5. Try meditating. No time? Just close your eyes,relax, and watch your breath for a while. Accept thatyour mind will wander, but continually return yourattention to your breath. Five minutes of this, andafterwards you'll feel a boost in your brainpower.

6. Resolve your "mind irritations." Watch your busybrain. Maybe a call you need to make has beenbothering you, just below consciousness. Find thesestressors, and do something to let them go. Forexample, make that call, or put it on a list, and yourmind will let go of it for now. Just seeing a problemand saying, "There's nothing I can do about this untilFriday," will often stop unconscious worrying.

7. Don't drink alcohol. At least don't drink too much.While moderate amounts can be conducive tocreative thinking, all the evidence says that it is badfor the long-term health of your brain.

8. Make decisions quickly. Nothing gets in the way ofclear thinking like a dozen decisions hanging aroundunmade. If nothing else, decide when you'll make thedecision.

9. Get some fresh air. Go outside and breath deeplythrough your nose. You'll get a good dose of oxtgento your brain, and the change of surroundings canhelp clear your mind.

10. Satisfy your physical needs. Clear thinking iseasier if you aren't too hungry, thirsty, or hot.

You can think more clearly starting today. There arecertainly more than ten ways, but you really only needto make a few of them a habit to have a more powerful

10 Steps To Clear Thinking

We're all skilled at creative thinking. It is, after all, the predominant waywe think as children. The reason we lose the skill as we grow up isbecause of the blocks we put in the way. In this article I'll show you 7ways you can unblock your creativity and think like a child again.

Each of us has the power tobe creative. It's part of ournatural make-up as humanbeings. The trouble is that,too often, we block ournatural creativity and somake errors in thinking andgive ourselves moreproblems than we should.Here are 7 ways to open up your natural creativity and keep thechannels unblocked.

1. Don't Make Assumptions.When we assume, we often make an "ass" out of "u" and "me".Assumptions are examples of lazy thinking. We simply don't wait to getall the information we need to come to the right conclusions. There is

the story of the customer at the bank who after cashing a cheque andturning to leave, returns and says: "Excuse me, I think you made amistake." The cashier responds, "I'm sorry but there's nothing I can do.You should have counted it. Once you walk away we are no longerresponsible." Whereupon the customer replies: "Well, okay. Thanks forthe extra $20."Tip: When you feel yourself wanting to draw conclusions, just wait untilyou have all the information.

2. See Things From Other Points Of View.A truly open mind is willing to accept that, not only do other peoplehave other just as valid points of view from theirs, but that these otherpoints of view may be more valid. A story is told that the modernistpainter Pablo Picasso was once traveling on a train across Spain whenhe got into conversation with a rich businessman who was dismissiveof modern art. As evidence that modern art didn't properly representreality, he took out a photo of his wife from his wallet and said: "This ishow my wife should look, not in some silly stylized representation."Picasso took the photo, studied it for a few moments and asked: "Thisis your wife?" The businessman proudly nodded. "She's very small,"observed Picasso wryly.

“CREATIVETHINKING”

7 Blocks To Creative Thinking And How To Solve Them

Page 3

Tip: Don't have a monopoly on how thingsare. Things aren't always what they seem. Beready to consider other points of view.

3. Avoid Yo-Yo Thinking.Some people tend to have a tendency toswing from a highly positive mood one minuteto a highly negative one the next, all becauseof what they see in front of them. It's like ayo-yo: up one minute, down the next. It's farmore healthy to stay neutral and not letemotions get the better of you.Tip: Remember that things are rarely as good- or as bad - as you think they are.

4. Get Rid Of Lazy Thinking Habits.Habit can be a major stumbling block to clearthinking and another example of laziness. Trythis experiment. Write down the Scottishsurnames Macdonald, Macpherson, andMacdougall and ask someone to pronouncethem. Now follow these with the wordMachinery and see what happens. Mostpeople are likely to mis-pronounce it. This isbecause we tend to think in habitual ways anddon't like what doesn't fit.Tip: Don't think that, just because thingshappened in a certain way once before, thatthey will happen like that again.

5. Don't Think Like An Old Person, ThinkLike A Child.Research shows that the number ofsynapses, or connections, in the brain isgreater in a child of two than in an averageadult. The reason for this is that, while a childof two has no limiting world view, as adults wedo. It's like a sculptor who starts off with alarge block of clay, more than he needs, andthen gradually removes the clay as he mouldshis sculpture. If we use our brain like a child,accepting everything without judgment, wecan actually halt and reverse the brain ageingprocess.Tip: Don't worry about the myth of age. Withthe right stimulus and a passion for learning,you can actually improve your brain's powers.

6. See The Detail As Well As The BigPicture.You may know the poem by John GodfreySaxe called "The Blind Men and theElephant". This tells how six blind men ofIndostan go to see an elephant and each tryto work out what it is from touching it. Oneblind man touches the tusk, another the trunk,another the tail, and so on. Of course, notbeing able to see the whole elephant, theycome to wildly different conclusions.

Tip: Try to keep the big picture in front of youwhile looking at details. It will help to puteverything in its proper place and context.

7. Think For Yourself.Taking time out to think is still frowned on inmany organizations that prize activity overcreativity. People who work in creativity-constrained organizations are likely to thinkthe way they are supposed to think, or asothers think, or as has always been the wayto think. It's like the blinkered thinking thatHans Christian Anderson describes in hisstory of "The Emperor's New Clothes".Everyone in the land refuses to see that theemperor is naked and has been duped intobelieving he is wearing a splendid costume forhis coronation. Only a young boy who hasbeen ill and not party to the culturalbrainwashing can see the truth and cries out:"Look, everyone, the Emperor is wearing noclothes!"

Tip: Don't let others tell you how to think.When others ask your opinion, tell it to themstraight.

Once you make these 7 techniques part ofyour habitual thinking patterns, you willamaze yourself with how easy it is to come upwith fresh, innovative and creative solutions toall of life's problems.

7 Blocks To Creative Thinking And How To Solve Them

Studies on creative people have consistently demonstrated thatcreativity is associated with openness to new ideas, risk-taking, andbeing inner-directed. Do these traits put creative people at odds withthe culture and people around them? The answer is sometimes yesand sometimes no.

Say for example that Jeremy is a creative child that performs belowaverage in school. He may be seen as a poor student by teachers andparents for “daydreaming” and doing poorly on objective tests. Hislatent skills as a right- brain thinker might be underappreciated andunderdeveloped.

Or consider the case of Alycia, a high school teacher who works in aconstrictive environment. She is eager to try new teaching techniquesbut finds that her colleagues are traditional in their approach and evenhostile to her ideas. What can she do?

There is little doubt that creative people will struggle in environmentsthat are overly structured and they will feel frustrated with tasks that arenot challenging. This helps explain why creative children often havetrouble in school, their right-brain minds wandering while their left-brainteachers are trying to force them to memorize information that thesecreative children instinctively see as irrelevant or trivial tounderstanding the “big picture” in life.

Things often get worse for creative people when they enter theworkforce. If they haven’t chosen their occupation carefully they maywind up in a job that is not well suited for their particular talents andgifts. Unfortunately, they may find this out the hard way by being boredand frustrated at work.

But the job itself may not be the problem. It may also be the socialmilieu of the workplace. Every workplace has its own personality whichorganically evolves and changes over time. Some workplaces valuenew ideas and risk- taking, an environment that will be very stimulating

Creativity and Rebellion: Why They Go Hand-in-Hand

Page 4

We are constantly imitating others. When we copy other people, wecan't reproduce their charisma, talent or success. Externally, we canimitate their life, their way of dressing and drive the same kind of car,but this does not bring us fulfilment.

We can take another's life as an example, but we must think hardbefore we follow them. Look at the virtues of others and ask yourself:"I have something valuable and worthwhile myself? How can I bring itout?" When you notice something bad in those around you, make afirm resolve: "Let me not nurture such vices".

There is much hidden potential in each one of us. What should we doto make this blossom? When you activate yourself, you bring out all thestrengths and talents that God has given you, all that is inherent in you,that is natural in you, something genuine and original.

Create your own identity. When you do this other people gravitatetowards you. Activation leads to gravitation. Then you don't imitateothers. Instead others might want to be like you. We are used to payingmore attention to the external world. We try to gain social approval bydressing ourselves in a certain manner.

We stand in front of the mirror and make sure that we are presentablebefore we leave the house. We trust the mirror implicitly. The mirrorreflects our outward appearance, not our thoughts, feelings andrelationships.

Does it reflect the love in your heart? You may go to your workplacedressed in your best clothes. When somebody provokes you there, youmay retort in anger or sulk in silence. Either way your peace of mind isshattered. Now your beautiful dress does nothing to help you.

Only inner strength and equipoise can continue to keep you calm,cheerful and unruffled. For this you have to activate the divine corewithin, from which flows a perennial stream of peace and tranquillity.

Imitation cannot give you peace. So, watch your attitude, thoughts,words and desires. Be aware of the calmness in your inner core andtry to retain it.

External beauty is temporary. Inner beauty is permanent and eternal.This is the beauty we need and this is what we gain when we activateourselves. This is the beauty God recognises. So seek love, for youseek inner beauty. Direct your mind to a higher ideal.

When you see the divine beauty concealed in your own heart, you alsosee it in others. "Do not see, seek". Don't look merely at the externalform, but also at the divinity within. Today when you see a beggar, youwill give him alms.

You will not pat him on the back or shake his hand. If your child comeshome, dirty from the playground and calls you "Mummy, Daddy ...", youhug him with love.

If a child in rags comes to you, you drive him away because you don'tlove him. For the realised soul a beggar and a king are equally divineand beautiful because he has activated his inner core.

When you imitate you only see. When you activate you seek. Thedifference between "see" and "seek" is the "k". That "k" is kindness orkaruna.

When there is care, compassion and kindness, nothing else matters.So let us stop imitating. Let us evaluate ourselves and nurture thedivine core within. Let us seek. Let us activate.

Create Your Own Destiny

for a creative, risk-taker. Other environments are rigid and traditional,which will be frustrating and could lead to conflict and dissatisfaction.

Social psychologists have noted that some work groups suffer fromgroupthink, which is the tendency for some groups to feel superior toothers and to downplay any evidence to the contrary. These groupsvalue conformity and resist new ideas. An innovator will feel isolatedand rejected by co- workers who support this type of environment.

These co-workers often adopt an unspoken code regarding peoplewho are different or stand out from the crowd. They send overt andcovert messages of rejection to a creative co-worker who proposesnew ideas. These signals include ignoring a person’s comments orproviding perfunctory, hollow praise or worse punishments such asthreats and ridicule for proposing ideas that threaten the perceivedintegrity of the group.

Many people at work become comfortable with their daily routines andover time they defend these routines as something akin to beingsacred. These kinds of people often bow to the timeworn expression:“If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it,” but they over apply this attitude and tothem nothing is ever really “broken” and to suggest otherwise is tothreaten the comfort of their work routines. These people mightrespond in a venomous manner to creative and risk-taking co-workerswho threaten their “comfort zone” by proposing new ways of doingthings.

All of this suggests that creative people will often be at odds withpeople around them and frustrated by work environments andorganizational structures that are rigid and unbending. This is partiallydue to the fact that creative people are attracted to novelty and new

ideas and ways of doing things, and their creative minds are oftengenerating alternatives to accepted practices.The accumulated effects of these frustrations at school, work, orwhatever the setting, may lead some creative people to adopt arebellious attitude regarding rules and authority. When this happensthe result may be frustration and conflict on all sides where adownward spiral results from interpersonal conflict and disagreement.This frustration may lead to a career change or disciplinary action inthe workplace, an unfortunate byproduct of creative people not beingsuccessfully integrated into the workplace community.

These negative manifestations of rebellion can be avoided only whenorganizations and individuals are made aware of the interpersonaldynamics that distinguish different personality types from each other.One way to do so that is popular today is for co-workers to take theMyers-Briggs Personality Inventory and to discuss the results witheach other. While this test is not necessarily rigorous in terms ofaccepted statistical measures of reliability or validity, it serves thegreater purpose of opening the door to discussing interpersonalresponse styles and to respect each other for these differences.

Workplace diversity is typically defined in sociological terms by placingpeople in black-and-white categories, for example gender, race, andage. Meanwhile, other important personality and interpersonaldifferences, such as creativity, rarely get the same amount of attention.And yet the creativity dimension is one of the most important becausecreativity and risk-taking are crucial traits for organizational health andsurvival.

In order to avoid the traps of blind rebellion and open conflict,organizations must do a better job of identifying creative employeesand in fact nurturing creativity and respect for creativity in all their

Creativity and Rebellion: Why They Go Hand-in-Hand

Page 5

employees. This is not to suggest that common group practices suchas “brainstorming” are necessarily a good way to nurture creativity.Creative people are often different from other co-workers in severalways that include interpersonal differences, inner- directedness, andwork habits. These differences in style as well as substance need tobe addressed in an open and comfortable manner.

Creative people must also be taught to understand themselves and toappreciate that they have needs that can only be met in certain ways.They may prosper as artists, entrepreneurs, or in other professionsthat encourage openness, risk-taking, and eccentricity. This means

that our educational system must be more responsive to the needs ofcreative children and must offer ways for creative children to learn thatfits their learning styles.

When schools and workplaces are better educated about creativityand are in a better position to integrate creative people into thecommunity, then individuals and society will benefit. And youngsterslike Jeremy will be more likely to reach their full potential and adultslike Alycia will be able to enhance their work environment bycontributing unique and challenging ideas.

Creativity and Rebellion:

Our perception of the universe creates our reality. Throughunderstanding how our beliefs shape our destiny you can learn tomanifest your dreams into your reality.

For each of us, the universe is different. A homeless man may view theuniverse as unfair, hard and tough. A rich man may view the universeas a lovely place full of luxury and pleasure. Both of them are viewingthe same universe, it is just different because of their perceptions of itand their life experiences.

This is a fundamental key to understanding, to know that how youperceive the universe is how it is to you. If you feel it is full of fear andhatred, then it will be. If you think it is full of love and happiness, it is.Using some of the techniques discussed in this, and other articles, youcan start to reprogram the way you perceive the universe and changeyour life!

Think about how many times you have feared something happeningand then it has. For example, you might be worried that you are goingto bump your car, and then you do. Was it a premonition or did youcreate it? Compare this to the amount of times you have looked forwardto something and then it has happened. Usually the fear is a muchstronger emotion and focus, which causes the object of thatfear/thought to manifest much more quickly.

Of course, thought and belief does not just create the universe on anemotional and psychological level, but also on a material level. We mayfear that we are not good with money and hence we are not. You canuse your will and focus on manifesting items that you want to furtheryour life with. Remember that you can only manifest things you believeyou can have. You may wish for a million dollars, but unless you reallybelieve you can have it, you will not get it.

You need to be aware that things are not just going to fall out of the airand land on your lap, though on occasion they may well do so, literallyas well as figuratively. It sometimes takes a little while for what you wantto manifest to appear. Sometimes it requires faith and patience on yourpart. It might be the Universe is testing you to see if you really want itand will really dedicate yourself to getting it before you get it. Youcannot sit back and wait for what you want to manifest.

There is a saying "God helps those who help themselves". This is true.When you are manifesting it is essential that you listen to your intuitionand follow your instincts. It often also depends on whether what you aretrying to manifest is in tune with your life's purpose or not. If it is not thenyou have an uphill struggle to manifest it. Also, if you manifest for selfishneeds and with your ego then it is not likely to work. It works best whenyou manifest for the greater good, selflessly, and from your higher self.

When working on manifesting remember to keep your mind open as tohow it is going to appear in your life. For example, many of us may wantto manifest more money. We have a mental program that says, "moremoney means I have to work more". This is not necessarily true. Youmight manifest more money from a promotion, a raise at work, a changeof job or career, from a competition win, an inheritance, and many other

ways. You need to be open to this because if you mentally limit theways the Universe can provide to you then it is going to be much harderfor what you want to come into your life. Listen to your intuition toobecause it will help guide you. You might get the urge to buy anewspaper suddenly. You buy it and notice the exact car you want forsale in it. Our intuition is from our higher self and will guide us if we listento it.

You can use decrees, affirmations, and positive visualisation to helpyou create what you want in your universe. This does not just have tobe limited to material items, but you can work on bringing more love,more joy and many other things into your life and the lives of thosearound you. When you are working on manifesting things such as theseinto your life look to the root cause of what you are lacking. Forexample, you might feel you are lacking love in your life. Examine thecause and you might see it is because of a lack of self-worth orself-love, or because of something in your childhood. Once you areaware of why you can work on dealing with the issue and healingyourself. Then you will find it much easier to bring, and to keep, whatyou desire in your life.

Another exercise you can do to help you manifest is to realise theabundance of the universe. Abundance will be the subject of anotherarticle, and is dealt with fully within the course, but take a walk outsidesome time and look at how abundant nature is. See how freely naturegives and how much is given. Think about this and how abundance canbe a part of your life.

You can use affirmations such as:

* I am worthy of love and respect from others and myself

* I have an abundance of money in my life

* I am good with money and spend it wisely

* I open myself to the abundance of the universe

* I am in tune with my higher self

* I accept that I am a good and worthy person

Finally, remember these points:

Believe in what you are trying to manifest

Listen to your intuition

Manifest from your higher self and in harmony with your life's purpose

Manifesting is not just limited to material items. You can manifest morelove, happiness, peace, and much more

Manifest for others, not just yourself

Manifest Your Dreams

Page 6

That YOU create the universe you live in, so changing yourperceptions of it, changes the universeBelieve in yourself and what you can achieve. You can manifestanything you desire in your life, good or bad. Harness the power of

your sub-conscious mind in manifesting your desires through theManifestation

Manifest Your Dreams

Page 7

There is an often missed distinction among Being the First, BeingOriginal, and Being Innovative.

To determine that someone (or something) has been the first, we needto apply a temporal test. It should answer at least three questions: whatexactly was done, when exactly was it done and was this ever donebefore.

To determine whether someone (or something) is original - a test ofsubstance has to be applied. It should answer at least the followingquestions: what exactly was done, when exactly was it done and wasthis ever done before.

To determine if someone (or something) is innovative - a practical testhas to be applied. It should answer at least the following questions:what exactly was done, in which way was it done and was exactly thisever done before in exactly the same way.

Reviewing the tests above leads us to two conclusions:

1.. Being first and being original is more closely linked than being firstand being innovative or than being original and being innovative. Thetests applied to determine "firstness" and originality are the same. 2.. Though the tests are the same, the emphasis is not. To determinewhether someone or something is a first, we primarily ask "when" -while to determine originality we primarily ask "what".Innovation helps in the conservation of resources and, therefore, in thedelicate act of human survival. Being first demonstrates feasibility ("itis possible"). By being original, what is needed or can be done isexpounded upon. And by being innovative, the practical aspect isrevealed: how should it be done.

Society rewards these pathfinders with status and lavishes othertangible and intangible benefits on them - mainly on the Originatorsand the Innovators. The Firsts are often ignored because they do notdirectly open a new path - they merely demonstrate that such a path isthere. The Originators and the Innovators are the ones who discover,expose, invent, put together, or verbalize something in a way whichenables others to repeat the feat (really to reconstruct the process)with a lesser investment of effort and resources.

It is possible to be First and not be Original. This is because Being Firstis context dependent. For instance: had I travelled to a tribe in theAmazon forests and quoted a speech of Kennedy to them - I wouldhardly have been original but I would definitely have been the first tohave done so in that context (of that particular tribe at that particulartime). Popularises of modern science and religious missionaries are allfirst at doing their thing - but they are not original. It is their audiencewhich determines their First-ness - and history which proves their (lackof) originality.

Many of us reinvent the wheel. It is humanly impossible to be aware ofall that was written and done by others before us. Unaware of the factthat we are not the first, neither original or innovative - we file patentapplications, make "discoveries" in science, exploit (not so) "new"themes in the arts.

Society may judge us differently than we perceive ourselves to be -less original and innovative. Hence, perhaps, is the syndrome of the"misunderstood Admittedly, things are easier for those of us who usewords as their raw material: there are so many permutations, that thelikelihood of not being first or innovative with words is minuscule.Hence the copyright laws.

Yet, since originality is measured by the substance of the created(idea) content, the chances of being original as well as first are slim. Atmost, we end restating or re-phrasing old ideas. The situation is worse(and the tests more rigorous) when it comes to non-verbal fields ofhuman endeavour, as any applicant for a patent can attest.

But then surely this is too severe! Do not we all stand on the shouldersof giants? Can one be original, first, even innovative without assimilat-ing the experience of past generations? Can innovations occur invacuum, discontinuously and disruptively? Is not intellectual continuitya prerequisite?

True, a scientist innovates, explores, and discovers because of (alimited and somewhat random) selection of previous explorations andresearch. He evens uses equipment - to measure and perform otherfunctions - that was invented by his predecessors. But progress andadvance are conceivable without access to the treasure troves of thepassed. True again, the very concept of progress entails comparisonwith the past. But language, here, defies reality. Some innovationcomes "out of the blue" with no

Scientific revolutions are not smooth evolutionary processes (evenbiological evolution is no longer considered a smooth affair). They arephase transitions, paradigmatic changes, jumps, fits and starts ratherthan orderly unfolding syllogisms (Kuhn: "The Structure of ScientificRevolutions").

There is very little continuity in quantum mechanics (or even in theRelativity Theories). There is even less in modern genetics and immu-nology. The notion of laboriously using building blocks to construct anebony tower of science is not supported by the history of humanknowledge. And what about the first human being who had a thoughtor invented a device - on what did he base himself and whose work didhe continue?

Innovation is the father of new context. Original thoughts shape thehuman community and the firsts among us dictate the rules of thegame. There is very little continuity in the discontinuous processescalled invention and revolution. But our reactions to new things andadaptation to the new world in their wake remain the same. It is therethat continuity is to be found.

Being First, Being Original, Being Innovative

Page eight

Many people believe that the goal of any society is progress, howeverfor most of us it is not easy to get used to something new. It takesmore or less time for every person to adapt to new environment, evenif it is only using a new tool, cooking a new dish or finding a new busstop. That is the reason why many people cling to the way things areand it is much easier for them to do habitual things.

Any person's every day of life consists of many repeated activities,such as driving car, dressing, eating. People do most of theseactivities automatically, without much thinking. Automatic operationshelp brains to avoid unnecessary efforts, but many people also usethis natural capability of brain in a wrong way.

They create "cliché" for many activities in their life, use sameexpressions, eat same food, and go to same supermarkets. Peoplelive with same world outlook whole their life. It is clear that in mostcases laziness makes them live with "cliché" because it is much easierfor people to make habitual things, say habitual phrases and do thesame job everyday, then straining the brain, creating something new,and making progress in their life.

However, there are still many activities, which demand creativity,ability to orientate us in new, unusual situations. Life brings ussurprises every day, and sometimes it is impossible to be prepared forall circumstances. Economical and political situation of any country inthe world transforms every month or year and leads to changes inmany life aspects. Today people need to be creative to get ahead,

because it is impossible to find favorable work or life conditions,without any changes and unexpected circumstances.

There are not too many people, which think and act creatively. Mostof those people are successful businessmen, artists or politicians,because they can effectively use the natural capability of brain to thinkcreatively. Creative and imaginative people do not achieve successfor themselves only; they also contribute to progress of the society.That is why it is important to train yourself to be creative and get rid ofmany "cliché" opinions in your mind.

First step to think creatively is to comprehend which activities areindeed in need of "cliché" (such every day simple operations as drivingcar) and which activities demand creativity (such as work, business,education, upbringing of children).

Second, do your daily activities such as work or family creatively,enrich your knowledge about your business, and find new ways toimprove it, do not be afraid to give work to your brain, because in dailylife most people use only 4-5% of their brain ability to think.

Last, but not least is to be aware that if you are creative andimaginative person you would not be disarmed by unexpected orunusual life circumstances and changes because you can always finda way to adjust and get ahead in your life.

Achieving Success And Progress Through Creative Thinking

When we're in the creative flow, we can sometimes forget we evenhave a body, because our minds are exploding with color, sounds,words and images. But when unhealthy habits sap your body of itsvitality and strength, your creativity and productivity will be sapped aswell.

What could be more frustrating than the interruption of your creativeflow by an uninvited headache, back spasm, dullness of mind or the"shakes"?

I once heard the expression that a guitar player, is a "small muscleathlete" – meaning they need to warm up those muscles and treatthem well. Perhaps as artists we're ALL small muscle athletes. Afterall, we do need a good measure of physical endurance to get throughour creative tasks.

Whether it's sitting hunched over an easel, the repetitive movementsof playing a musical instrument, the stamina to stand and walk onstage throughout an entire show or sitting at a computer keyboard formost of the day, our creative tools all require the use of the body.

To keep that body strong and resilient takes daily attention.

Day-to-day self-care practices such as getting enough sleep, eatingthree healthy and balanced meals that are evenly timed throughout theday (plus healthy snacks if you need them), moving your body activelyand drinking enough water are all essential for taking care of yourbody.

Taking care of the body also affects the mind. Fatigue, malnutrition,inactivity and dehydration will all have adverse effects on the mind andthe ability to problem solve, concentrate and connect ideas.

The Creative Cycle and Self-Care

Touring with a band, rehearsing for a show or burning the midnight oilto finish a painting before a gallery opening, are all examples ofextraordinary circumstances where we might relax our self-carediscipline and adopt a whole new set of rules.

Then, when the show or tour is over or the piece is finished, wesometimes sink into an anti-climactic "low" or a period of transitionbefore we get back into the creative flow again.

The daily practices you keep when things are "normal" will buildresilience for the times when these extraordinary circumstances comeup. They also build habits and healthy living skills that you can drawon when life gets more challenging.

Put it into play

One of the best practices for a healthy body, mind and spirit is to getenough sleep and rest. Tonight, end your evening activities a half hourearly and spend that time winding down. Release the worries of theday by writing or speaking about them. Calm yourself with a bath, tea,massage, music or a good read that doesn’t remind you of your work.

We can all come up with reasons why we can't exercise, we can'tmake different food choices and we can't focus more on our health.

You have a unique creative gift to share with the world, but yourcreativity relies on a sound mind and body.

So which of your reasons for not taking care of yourself are moreimportant than that?

Connect with Your Body

If you looked at fifteen things on a table, could you remember whatthey were an hour later? You can with a simple technique.

What's the biggest problem with memory tricks? Remembering to usethem, of course. There are many memory techniques that work well,but you'll forget them when you need them most - unless you makeusing them a habit. So when you take the time to learn a technique,use it until it becomes automatic. Here are some to try.

Using a Story-List

I went to a party as a child. There was a game that involved looking ata table covered in 15 various items. After a few minutes, we weretaken to another room, and each child was given paper and a pencil.We had to write down as many items as we could remember. Irecalled seven or eight, but one boy won the prize by remembering all15 items.

Years later I learned why he won. His father taught him a simple trickthat none of us other kids knew. The technique is to tie the itemstogether in an imaginative story. For example, what if you want toremember a list of the following things: Soap, milk, honey, fork, andflowers.

Start a vivid story in your imagination, adding each item to it as you go:At the sink, you reach for the SOAP. The soap dish is full of MILK, soyou wash your hands in that. Then you comb HONEY into your hair

with a FORK, and finally pick up a bouquet of FLOWERS and smile atthe mirror. Say each item while mentally reviewing your "movie," andyou'll remember all five things, even the next day.

Some Other Memory Tricks

Tell yourself to remember. When you learn a person's name, forexample, tell yourself, "remember that". This signals your unconsciousmind to rank this input as more important.

Know WHY you want to remember something, and HOW you'llremember it. To remember a person, for example, ask why they'll beimportant to you in the future, imagine where you'll see them next, andconnect that to anything you notice about them. Seeing the importanceof remembering really helps, and additional associations (where youexpect to see the person next) set the memory more firmly in your brain.

Do you ever forget where you put your car keys? You've probably triedretracing your steps, at least doing it in your imagination. This can workwell, but even better is to prevent the forgetting beforehand. When youset the keys on the chair, see yourself walking in and setting the keyson the chair. You won't forget where they are.

There are many more of these memory tricks. If you want them to beuseful, though, don't just read about them. Make a memory techniqueor two into a habit, starting today.

How To Remember Things

Developing intuition starts by realizing you have it already. If you'veever had a hunch about something, that was intuition. Intuition is justyour mind using more than what you are consciously aware of. But canyou trust your intuition? How do you improve it?

Developing Intuition In Three Steps

1. Recognize it and encourage it.

2. Study it to make it more trustworthy.

3. Give it good information to work with.

Gary Kasparov will admit that a computer can calculate chess posi-tions many moves further ahead than he can. Yet he still beats thebest computers out there because of his intuitive grasp of the game.His experience allows him to combine analysis with a "sense" of whichmove is best. Try to find areas in your own life where you intuitivelyoperate.

Of course, intuition is also a warning device. Both my wife and I felt weshould not get on that bus in Ecuador. This is no psychic power.Crowded busses are prime locations for pickpockets. A drunk manwas bumping into people repeatedly. We did not consciously payattention, but these things registered in our minds, warning us. We felt"something is not right When we ignored our intuition, I was robbed.

When I bought a conversion van, I saw them all over. Maybe you'vehad a similar experience. Looking for and recognizing a thing trainsyour mind to find more of it. The same process will happen if you watchfor your intuition - you will start to see more of it.

Unfortunately, a strong hunch can be for irrelevant reasons too. If youwere hit by a yellow taxi as a child, you might have "intuitive" hunches

not to get into yellow taxis for the rest of your life. So even learning torecognize your intuition and encourage it may leave you wonder whento trust it.

<b>Study Your Intuition</b>

Start questioning your hunches. If we had asked why we felt badlyabout that bus, it may have occurred to us, "Oh yeah, crowded bussesare a bad idea - we know Study your strong feeling about that taxi,and you might say, "Oh, it's just my fear of yellow Get in the habit ofpaying attention to and studying your intuitive feelings.

Where does your intuition work best? If you are always right aboutyour intuitive stock picks, give a little credence to them. On the otherhand, if your hunches about people are usually wrong, do not followthem. Just pay attention more, and you will be developing intuitionabout your intuition.

Give Your Intuition Good Information

Your skill, knowledge and experience determine the potential effec-tiveness of your intuition. No weak chess player will never intuitivelybeat that computer, like Kasparov can. Learn enough about a subject,before expecting good hunches about it - or before trusting the hunch-es. Work in the area you want more intuition in. When enough informa-tion is in your mind, it will go to work for you with or without yourconscious participation, so feed it well.

Recognize your intuition and you will have hunches and ideas moreoften. Study it and you will learn when to trust it. Give it good informa-tion and you will be repaid with good hunches and ideas. This is thesimple formula for developing intuition.

Developing Intuition

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“Your daily surroundings have a powerful impact on your life!”“So consciously choose your environment!”

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