Non-Linear Thinking and Success: Mental Strength Tip #174

Personal success is achieved through the disciplined execution of a fully established personal development plan that includes the use of non-linear thinking.

This virtual personal coaching session is to assist you in your self-improvement, personal growth and personal development progress.

It is intended to create self-empowerment and inspire you to take action so that you can reach your personal goals and personal success.

I take a personal growth topic, in this case emotional strength, and give an overview about it.  Then I’ll continue by asking a series of mental strength questions.  I’ll wrap-up with a summary and some final thoughts.

Non-linear thinking, a relatively new term, is vague enough (perhaps naturally so) that a simple Google search will yield more beatings-around-the-bushes than formal definitions for the phrase. I think of it as follows:

Human thought characterized by expansion in multiple directions, rather than in one direction, and based on the concept that there are multiple starting points from which one can apply logic to a problem.

[color-box]How mentally tough are you? Find out if you got what it takes by taking this complimentary Mental Strength Assessment. To take it, just go HERE[/color-box]

Objective of this Mental Strength Tip on Non-Linear Thinking:

To persuade you the embrace non-linear thinking when attempting to solve complex problems.

Let’s Get Started:

Non-linear thinking is less constrictive – letting the creative side of you run rampant because of its inherent lack of structure. It’s kind of like letting a puppy run wild on a walk up a mountain – anything of interest will be thoroughly investigated (and perhaps peed on) before jumping to the next, possibly non-related subject! It’s very much like brainstorming – allowing thought to flow, unhindered, in attempts to arrive upon something special in the process.

Non-linear thought increases possible outcomes by not being so certain about the starting point for any logic process. Non-linear thinkers tend jump forward, and from side to side through the steps of a project, in an effort to see the big picture and tackle those areas where they have the most interest. Where non-linear thinking falters is in finally carrying out the required action, because as a thought process it often encourages a user to agonize incessantly over where to start (that agreed upon truth, from which logic can be applied and action can be taken).

Questions to Uncover Beliefs about Non-Linear Thinking:

• What is the central difference between linear and non-linear thinking?
• If non-linear thinking is so powerful, why don’t they teach it in school?
• Is non-liner thinking a skill you develop or something you’re born with?

Unsupportive Beliefs about Non-Linear Thinking:

• Linear and non-linear thinking are the same thing?
• If a problem can’t be solved non-linear thinking won’t make any difference.
• I don’t have time for non-linear thinking.

Mental Strength Beliefs about Non-Linear Thinking:

• Non-linear thinking can solve almost any problem.
• Non-linear thinking helps people build vast reserves of wealth.
• Non-linear thinking allows you to earn more and work less.

Outrageous Questions about Non-Linear Thinking:

• Could the biggest challenge you’re currently facing be eliminated through a non-linear strategy?
• Is ti possible you haven’t fully tapped your non-linear thinking capabilities? If so, what steps can you take to change this?
• If you implemented non-linear thinking more aggressively, would it reduce the level of stress you feel on a daily basis?

Reflective Questions about Non-Linear Thinking:

• How advanced are your non-linear thinking skills?
• What would you have to let go of in order to become a better non-linear thinker?
• If you train yourself to become a better non-linear thinker, what is the potential impact on your success?

Mental Strength Coaching on Non-Linear Thinking:

From the moment you are born, you are an input device constantly making connections. In the first five years of life, your brain grows very rapidly and sets down patterns of recognition. For example, as a survival skill, infants smile at everyone.

Next they learn to recognize mommy and daddy, then they develop a fear of strangers, and then they learn to reserve affinity for family and other trusted people. Finally, they choose their own friends.

Over time, people begin to lay down patterns of normal and non-normal. That’s why you can look at a situation and know something isn’t right. If you see someone in an airport who has recently had a stroke, you may not realize the individual had one, but you do know that something isn’t right. That is called non-linear thinking – moving quickly from an observation to an end point. Depending on your experience, that end point might have an accuracy as low as 50-50.

However, for people trained in creativity, the accuracy is about 99.7 percent. These quick, non-linear solutions, called snap judgments or instinct, are valuable in life and in business. Too often, though, these instincts are not used in the business world, but that’s about to change.

Final Thought in Non-Linear Thinking:

Pros and Cons of Linear Thinking

The biggest advantage for linear thinkers is the ability to think logically and sequentially. However, while linear thinkers do excel in more left-brained activities, a person who thinks linearly can be deficient in arts and languages. Another disadvantage to linear thinking involves the lack of abstract thinking. Without the ability to think abstractly, a linear thinker may miss new and exciting ways to look at problems.

Pros and Cons of Non-linear Thinking

Just as with linear thinking, a major disadvantage of nonlinear thinking is a deficiency in math and science, although not all nonlinear thinkers struggle in this area. Albert Einstein would have been considered a nonlinear thinker, but he clearly excelled in the areas of math and science.

However, Einstein’s math and science abilities were fueled by his ability to think in the abstract, which is a major part of being a nonlinear thinker. Nonlinear thinkers can often be seen as having an attention deficit, even to the point of having attention deficit disorder. Nonetheless, nonlinear thinking often produces positive results, even though the means to reach the results may not always be traditional.

Get started today on creating a shift towards non-linear thinking and request your Introductory Consultation by going HERE.