Superpower problem solving
Last night I went to bed with a lot on my mind. I actually relished the discomfort. You see, I have stumbled onto a superpower when it comes to problems…
It needn’t be a secret. You can have this superpower too.
I simply commit the outline of my problem to my sub-conscious before I go to sleep. When I wake up in the morning, everything is ordered and coherent in my conscious mind, and I know exactly what I need to do to solve the problem.
This lesson came from the school of hard knocks. At one point in my life I found that weekly (and sometimes more often) I would be called to speak to an audience that could range from tens to hundreds. I quickly determined that it wasn’t possible to prepare for each occasion with the sort of rigour, planning and practice that you might undertake if working towards a keynote speech at a conference. I just had to be ready. Always. I had to create a process that gave me confidence whenever and wherever I needed it.
The discovery was somewhat accidental. One night before another of these speaking requirements, I was very tired and too overwhelmed to spend hours writing out a script or thinking through my approach.
So I focused on one key idea, that was my central thesis, and three supporting dot points. I scratched these out on a piece of paper, without knowing exactly what evidence or stories or challenges I would bring to the audience, nor how I would communicate them through the narrative arc. I studied this visually, and once satisfied that I had the gist, fell asleep instantly — for I was physically and mentally exhausted.
When I awoke and looked at the paper again, to my surprise, a subconscious stream helped me flesh out the flow. “Got it!” I thought.
It was one of my best presentations to that point. I connected with the audience. I looked them in the eye. I knew what I was talking about, and I didn’t need notes. I just hit my three point structure with an occasional glance at the lectern.
I tried it again the next time. Thereafter, I realised the power of the sub-conscious. Simply program your mind with a clear problem statement, and something happens overnight that sorts out the details. No need to endlessly worry or think about your problem over and over.
So if you ever find yourself anxious about a personal, professional, or other matter as your head sinks into the pillow: Get up. Grab a piece of paper and pen, and articulate the problem or idea clearly. Study it. Commit it to your mind. Let go and trust that your mind is a superpower and can work out an answer.
I should add that it is probably best to start with something low-risk until you develop your confidence. For me, this has worked out more times than I can recount.
Have you ever tried to solve a problem with your subconscious?
