Take Time to Think

Most of us have learned that there are measurable benefits in taking time for regular physical exercise.  Thinking is how you exercise your mind.

In a typical day we use our minds for a number of repetitive thought processes as we communicate, solve problems, memorize and remember.  However, without a conscientious effort, our busy schedules leave little time for introspection, experimentation, creation and other thought processes which contribute to a healthy, well-rounded life.  Regardless of your position, if you don’t invest time in your mental fitness, you’re falling behind in a world that is changing at a technology accelerated pace.

“The world will not evolve past its current state of crisis by using the same thinking that created the situation,” attributed to Albert Einstein.

Here are three simple exercises for your mind – read, visualize, share.

Read

The ability to read is a superpower.  Reading gives us the power to see all parts of the world, to understand its history and to imagine its future.

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read,” attributed to Mark Twain.

There’s never been an easier time to read.  Digital distribution enables us to access nearly anything that’s ever been written and much of the classic literature is available online free of charge.  Reviews and recommendations help us invest our time wisely.  Catalog systems help us do thorough research and publishing takes place with the push of a button.  There has simply never been a better time to read.

“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” Harry S. Truman.

Visualize

Visualization is the anabolic steroid for imagination – it helps convert imagination into belief.

Our minds are a partnership between the conscious and the unconscious.  Within the unconscious are many things that we have learned so well that we no longer have to think about how to do them – things like typing on a keyboard, using cutlery or riding a bicycle.  Creative visualization is a process that creates a “virtual” mental map for learning new skills and accomplishing challenging goals.  In theory, visualization works by training our unconscious mind to work as if the imagined is actually the reality.  Dreams show us where we want to go.  Visualization finds the route.

Visualization, creativity, fantasy, brainstorming, and storytelling – all benefit when we exercise our imagination.

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities.” Attributed to Dr. Seuss

Share

Sharing may seem counterintuitive in a competitive business environment.  Business, however, is a team sport and there’s a competitive advantage to having a healthy team environment.  The whole is greater than the sum of its parts because the ability to collaborate becomes as, or more important than the expertise of any of its members.  After all, is it easier to name five Nobel Prize winners or five individuals that shared something that changed your life?

“Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality,” attributed to Dalai Lama XIV.

Networking and teaching are two important components of sharing.  Teach and you shall learn.

"In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less," attributed to Lee Iacocca.

Exercise Your Mind

Read, visualize and share.  Add these exercises to your life and continue to grow.