Intuition IV

The Six Familiar I’s of Problem Solving

I doubt if you ever sat down at work and specifically said “I am going to engage in intuitive problem solving,” and you have probably used many facets of this process without even knowing it.

Exercise

The Familiar I’s of Problem Solving

Here are the I’s of the problem solving process that you have used before. When you see these words or phrases, what thoughts come to mind? Write your associations to these words or phrases in the space provided.

In the Silence:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Introspective:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Imagination:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Illumination:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Incubation:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Implementation:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

The Intuitive Problem-Solving Formula (IPS)

Define the problem: What is your problem? Write it out as a concise and clear question.
Center yourself: Select one or all of the following techniques. Step into a desired state, for example “my intuitive signals are strong and reliable” and a focusing state, for example “peace be still.”
Be open and receptive: Sit quietly with your eyes open or closed. For optimal receptivity, use a breathing technique.
Elicit imagery: What imagery appears? You may see an image, hear a voice, have a feeling, taste the answer, sniff it out, or clearly know the direction to take. Remember that your intuitive flash can come passively or spontaneously as an impression, number, picture, metaphor, symbol, or a familiar word or phase.
Rest: If the solution is unclear, let the problem go. Let it incubate or rest until the right solution emerges spontaneously.
Be alert to any sudden flashes of insight illuminating the resolution that come.

Repeatedly practice using the IPS steps so they become second nature. After defining the problem, the next step or preparatory phase is to learn how to become centered. During this step, you are shifting your attention from “out there” to the silent place within so you can hear the intuitive mind speak. Making this shift so you can access the intuitive mind and disengage the logical mind is vital.

Taking this step requires you to become more receptive to the intuitive mind. Using the breathing and receptivity states will help you “slow down” your brainwaves so you can enter this receptive state.

It is important to recognize how your intuitive mind speaks to you. Some discover they are a visualizer and others are better at “feeling” the solution. That will be in the key to consistently retrieving your imagery. As you begin to “put it all together” you can begin resolving situations. After achieving that success, you can resolve some of the more dynamic issues in the work place or in your personal life.

Exercise

NLP Problem Refinement

Formulate five problems of your own that you would like to resolve using IPS. This is your opportunity to write and rewrite until each of your five issues are clear and concisely formulated as a question to be answered.

Issue 1:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Issue 2:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Issue 3:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Issue 4:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Issue 5:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Now that you have begun to clearly state the issue, you can begin to put all the components of the IPS formula together. As you are learning how to use this process, I suggest keeping a copy of the formula in a handy place in your office and at home.