How to Think Like a Genius

Have you ever wondered how Einstein thought? Or how nMichaelangelo visualized his magnificent creations? Have you never pondered the thoughts of Socrates? Or wanted to explore nthe mind of Plato? nnThese revolutionary minds tapped into their unbound npotential. They unlocked the capabilities held within their n3-pound brain. nnBy its very design, the human brain stores vast potential nfor learning, memory, and creativity. However, the brain ndoes not give its power away freely. You must learn to tap ninto your true potential. nnGod doesn't give us formal instruction manuals for our nbrain. Therefore, we must explore the power of thought on nour own. Let this article be your guide. nnListed below are four strategies that will enable you to nthink like Einstein, to tap into your creativity, and look nat problems in new perspectives. nn1. The first step is to expand your perspective. nnThe genius mind will look at a problem from many different nangles. Most people only rely on their own perspective, and ntherefore always have a very narrow view of the world. nnLeonardo da Vinci believed that, to gain knowledge about nthe form of a problem, you must begin by learning how to nrestructure it in many different ways. He believed that the nfirst way you look at a problem is entirely too biased. You nare only seeing the problem from one perspective: yours. nnEinstein once said, "You cannot solve a problem with the nsame type of thinking that is creating it." nnBy looking at a problem from different points of view, the nproblem is then restated and a solution can be discovered. nn2. The second step to thinking like a genius is to nVisualize! nnAlbert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Walt Disney, Nikola nTesla, and even Mozart all ascribed their creative genius nto their ability to visualize. nnEinstein said that all of his most important and productive nthinking was done by “combinatory play” with “images” in nhis mind. Einstein used images, visual patterns and nassociations to discover more about the world around him. nHe was often found using diagrams in order to restate the nproblem and approach it in a number of different ways. nnEinstein believed that the spirit of learning and creative nthought were lost in strict rote learning. Instead, he nturned to his own imagination and visualization. nnVisualization is an incredibly powerful tool in solving nproblems. Often times much more powerful that simply using nwords or numbers. nn3. The third key, and one of the most important elements to ngenius thinking is that of curiosity and the courage to ask nquestions. nnAs we grow older, however, we become passive to the world naround us. We stop asking questions, lose our much of our ncuriosity, and the learning comes to a screeching halt. nnInstead, we must embrace the imagination and curiosity of nour childhood. We must never stop questioning the world naround us. nnWithout questions, we cannont grow. nnAlbert Einstein once said,nn“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity nhas its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in nawe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of nlife, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough nif one tries merely to comprehend a little of the mystery nevery day. Never lose a holy curiosity.” nn4. The last and final step in thinking like a genius is to nHave Fun! nnNo person has achieved massive success by doing what they nhate. Pablo Picasso once said, “When I work I relax; doing nnothing or entertaining visitors makes me tired.” nnIn addition, Dale Carnegie said, “People rarely succeed nunless they have fun in what they are doing.” nnThe most successful people in life find work that inspires nand excites them. nnnI’ll leave you with a fitting poem Christain D. Larson:nnWhen you work simply for yourself or for your own personalngain your mind will seldom rise above the limitations ofnthe undeveloped personal life;nnbut when you are inspired by some great purpose, somenextraordinary project, all your thoughts break bounds; yournmind transcends limitations; your consciousness expands innevery direction;nnand you find yourself in a new world, a great world, anwonderful world; dormant powers, faculties and talentsnbecome alive,nnand you discover yourself to be a larger man by far than younever dreamed yourself to be.”nn– Christian D. Larson, Business Psychology, 1912