Mindfulness: The Key to Creativity & Problem Solving

Starting your car remotely.

3D printing organs that can be used in the human body.

A catchy song that you still remember 20 years later.

iPhone.

Video calls conducted from halfway across the world.

Each of these things is amazing, and daily, the world benefits from incredible things such as these. Although the process of 3D printing may seem complex, it’s nothing more than a creative idea, spurned from a thought, and put into action. In fact, every technological advance, work of art, best-selling novel, breakout product, business solution, or medical breakthrough is the result of – wait for it – a thought!

These creative thoughts, when put into action, solve problems for society every second, of every minute, of every day. To take it even further, it’s why entire industries, which are full of companies, which are full of employees, exist: To solve problems.

The great news is that each of us are fully capable of tapping into these thoughts, releasing creativity that allows us to produce innovative, efficient solutions to everyday problems!

How is this achieved? That, in itself, is a problem. However, the solution is simple: Mindfulness.

At first, one might think of mindfulness as a spiritual or emotional concept. However, it is a very cognitive concept. Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as, “Paying attention in a particular, nonjudgmental way, on purpose, and in the present moment.” In other words, it’s thinking about your thinking!

When faced with a daunting task or even a simple challenge, it’s easy to multi-task, become anxious, get distracted, and react habitually. Being mindful allows you to be present in a situation, see things clearer, and tap into creative thoughts that produce solutions. For inventors, it can be the breakthrough to a world-changing invention. For educators, it can be a more effective teaching method. As an entertaining leadership speaker, mindfulness is the key to delivering an exceptional message while engaging the audience. Three, effective ways of being more mindful include:

Awareness – Be aware of what you are thinking and doing. What emotions, sensations, and urges do you notice in an experience or situation? For example, when you are eating a candy bar, pay attention to the thoughts, emotions, urges, and thoughts as you eat the candy bar.

Be in the Experience – After realizing what you are thinking and doing, slow down and accept that it’s there. You may notice that while you are eating the candy bar, you feel anxious. Why do you feel anxious? Let’s say you have a big exam coming up. At this moment, you realize that in stressful situations you tend to eat things that taste good and provide a level of comfort. Accept what you are thinking and feeling without reacting.

Clarity and Creativity – After becoming intentionally aware and present in the experience, you now see things clearer. This is the breakthrough moment where you tap into creativity! Using our candy bar example, you now know that in stressful situations, you have a tendency to react by eating comforting foods. You decide to change this habit by going for a peaceful walk. You have just created a solution!

Mindfulness is a process that allows you to evaluate your approaches to everyday problems, analyze those approaches, and then create solutions to those problems using new approaches. It’s a practice that is applicable in both the simple and complex situations of life. The more mindful you are, the more creative you are. The more creative you are, the more effective you are at solving problems. One creative idea can save a company millions of dollars, allow you to be more creative and innovative at work, provide a more efficient way of healthcare, or provide a new product that makes a consumer’s life easier.