Boost Creative Problem Solving From deciding what to eat for breakfast to handling a complex dilemma at the office, there is always more than one solution to any problem. The paths linking a problem to any number of resolutions can become twisted with doubt, uncertainty, or fear. Choosing one solution means giving up other opportunities. How do we select the best course of action? Meditation: Divergent thinking is a style of thinking that allows many new ideas to be generated. It offers personal space and an outlet for creativity, making room to think up as many uses as possible for a given topic or solutions to a problem. Or better, discovering solutions that provide unexpected gains, or minimize compromise. Creative breakthroughs are often reported to emerge spontaneously, when the mind is distracted and not focusing on the problem at hand,  says cognitive psychologist Mark A. Smith, Ph.D. How can we get started with divergent thinking and produce multiple creative solutions to problems in a short time? The answer is as simple as breathing. Doron Libshtein is regarded as a world-leading self-development mentor, having worked closely with top spirituality authors, including Deepak Chopra, Byron Katie, Robin Sharma, Tim Kelley, Marcia Weider and Karen Berg. As chairman and founder of Mentors Channel, Libshtein spearheads the holistic wellness program at The Hall Center in Santa Monica, California, a mindful medical practice connecting people to joy and their life s true purpose. Libshtein says, Meditation can help women gain +the inspiration and focus offered by divergent thinking. Creative ideas can come from meditation and connection to the source of your inner voice and thoughts.  How can meditation improve Divergent Thinking? Certain meditation techniques can promote creative thinking, even if it s your first time meditating. Open Monitoring meditation, which allows us to open to perceive and observe any sensation, promotes divergent thinking. In other words, maintaining a mindful and alert state during meditation results in more insight. Libshtein says, One myth is that meditation is no thought.  This actually ends up blocking the practice of meditation.  Researcher Yi-Yuan Tang explains why Open Monitoring meditation isn t about controlling your thoughts: Instead we invite meditators to open to their inside ideas. They can observe and be aware of their thoughts.  Give it a week In a Leiden University study, researchers confirmed the belief that meditation can have a long-lasting influence on human cognition, including how we conceive new ideas. Participants performed better in divergent thinking (thinking up as many possible solutions for a given problem) after Open Monitoring meditation (being receptive to every thought and sensation). The best part? Long-term improvements in creativity performance were made after participants meditated only 30 minutes a day, for just 7 days. Consider whether you d rather wrestle with a problem at work for a week, or gather multiple solutions in a day. Is meditation beneficial in the workplace? Executive Management Associates CEO Nancy Slomowitz introduced meditation to her employees. Meditation produced tangible, practical benefits in both their professional and personal lives. And surprisingly, the company s cost of healthcare insurance actually went down due to a reduction in sick claims.  Cynthia McFadden, senior legal correspondent for NBC News, agrees. My friends are all really busy playing multiple roles as wives, mothers, business executives, raising money for charity there s a whole range of things,  she says. For me, meditation has helped me be more effective in the things I most care about. I don t know how it works, but I know it does.  I m busy. Can t I just free-write some ideas? Why bother with this meditation stuff? The qualities that meditation brings forth can have profound effects on the creative process,  says Libshtein. For example, you may find that your patience, clarity, insight and perspective are markedly improved, and that can help better your divergent thinking.  Meditating helps the cerebral cortex to relax in order to access divergent thinking in the right hemisphere to provide the insight. Dr. Smith explains why relaxation is essential: It isn t until we re soothed that we re able to turn the spotlight of attention inward, eavesdropping on all those random associations unfolding in the far reaches of the brain s right hemisphere. When we need an insight, those associations are often the source of the answer.  Dr. Smith says relaxation promotes a positive mood, which tends to enhance divergent thinking and creative problem solving.  How can I get started? Simple steps to start Open Monitoring meditation 1. Set aside 30 minutes daily, for one week. You can sit with your back straight or lie down  whichever feels the most comfortable. It s best to meditate in the morning or just before you go to bed at night,  says Libshtein. But the timing isn t as important as just doing it regularly.  2. Be Open. According to Dr. Judith Kravitz s Transformational Breath method, use your breath as a vehicle to set the mind free  and allow any thoughts, sensations and emotions that arise. The first goal is to open the breath, then open the mind to any occurring thought, sensation or emotion. During a session, as a thought occurs, most often accompanied by an emotion or a sensation in the body, simply observe and acknowledge the experience without any judgment. Accept all feelings and forms of emotions from moment to moment. 3. Affirm Yourself. Once you re maintaining a calm, connected breathing pattern, you can add an affirmation. It may sound New Age-y, but affirmations should be statements of fundamental truths. Continue to breathe without pausing, and try an affirmation such as, I am open,  I accept myself as I am,  or, I let go.  Notice and simply accept what comes up. It s common for busy women to say the one thing standing between them and meditation is time. The busier we are, the more we need that centering time,  says Ariana Huffington, Huffington Post editor-in-chief, time to actually be able to connect with our inner wisdom.  Rebecca Lacko is an author and journalist with a passion for healthy living. Get acquainted at The Written Word - published on : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/5824ce9ae4b021d97d31bbfe?timestamp=1478808467988

Meditation 101 Meditation has come out of the woo woo  realm and into the mainstream. Today, a wealth of online resources makes it possible to practice anywhere, anytime. A body of clinical research amply demonstrates the physical and emotional benefits of the practice, which helps wit meditator-image h everything from depression and anxiety to high blood pressure and addiction to workplace focus and personal relationships. Many would-be meditators are held back by assumptions that mindfulness takes too much time and requires extraordinary focus. According to world-renowned mentor and meditation expert Doron Libshtein, there s no right or wrong way to meditate, and anyone who can breathe can find a way to incorporate this health and wellness strategy into their self-care toolbox. Here are his top tips for getting started. 1. Routine, routine, routine. The first step for beginners is to commit to a regular time each day. Your meditation can be split into two short sessions, first thing in the morning and at bed time, or be one longer session. The amount of time is not as important as just doing it regularly. You can start with just a few minutes and work up to more as you begin to feel more comfortable. And you don t have to sit on the floor or in any specific position! You can sit in a chair, stand or lie down. 2. Mantras not mandatory, but recommended. This will give you something to focus on. If you choose to use one, it could be the popular om  or om shanti , or you can pick a personal affirmation. If you choose to use a mantra, just repeat it both on the inhale and the exhale. 3. Exhale. How you breathe keeps you focused and reduces stress, one of the leading causes of illness). Your exhale should be longer than your inhale. The goal is four counts on your inhale and eight counts on your exhale. However, don t force this &you can work up to it, and you will find that lengthening your exhale is an extraordinarily efficient way to calm you down. 4. Music and motion. Some additional tools to try are calming music, or a technique called dynamic meditation  in which you stand, close your eyes and gently shake your knees, arms, hips, head, etc. for a few minutes. Surprising, but it works! 5. Distractions happen. Don t worry if you are not able to completely clear your mind while practicing the breathing technique outlined above or throughout your meditation session. When you notice this happening, simply bring your attention back to your breath. 6. Get guidance from experts. Some people prefer guided meditation exercises, just as some prefer group workouts to solo ones. The Mentors Channel (www.mentorschannel.com) provides a variety of such exercises. These are all designed to counteract the stress, anxiety or other issues that you may be experiencing and to bring the conscious and unconscious minds into alignment to help bring about the positive changes you want to see in your life. 7. Be mindful of your stress and its causes. You can now use technology to understand and manage stress. The WellBe (www.thewellbe.com) is the first bracelet that measures your stress and emotional wellness in the short and long term. The wearable device shows you who and what are your personal stress triggers, alerts you to rising stress levels and provides real-time solutions in the form of meditation, focused breathing and mindful exercises - Interview with Doron Libshtein at mysticlivingtoday http://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=1750