How do you generate new ideas when you're stuck?

Albert Einstein said, “You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it.” Therefore, you need to think about thinking outside the box to resolve even finding the root cause of your creative block. This can be as simple as "changing state" (Or location). Grab a coffee, grab a snack, go for a walk. Whatever works for you to get your creative juiced flowing. You can also think intuitively. If you can put yourself into a present state (Not worrying about past or the future)n ask clear ask what the cause is, you are likely to get an instinctive answer. When you trust this instinct, use that as the root cause. A combination of intuition and changed state is a great way to get to the root of issues. Especially personal one.

When faced with a creative block, generating new ideas involves employing diverse strategies to stimulate fresh thinking. One effective approach is seeking inspiration from different sources, such as books, art, nature, or even everyday experiences. Stepping away from the problem and engaging in physical activities or relaxation techniques can help shift focus and allow the mind to wander, often leading to unexpected insights. Brainstorming with others can spark a synergy of ideas, as collective thinking generates a range of perspectives. Embracing a willingness to take risks and explore unconventional concepts can also break the mental barriers inhibiting creativity.

When faced with a complex of unfamiliar challenge or a creative block, I tend to take some distance, and do something completely different: playing with my grandson, taking a walk, going home and drink coffee with my wife: anything to take my mind off the problem at hand. In most cases this brings space in your head to think out of the box, creates fresh ideas and usually solutions. At the other hand: if solutions don't appear don't be afraid to abandon the project or ask a collegue. Not every problem is solvable by you, and with acknowlidging that, life becomes a lot easier.

My Advise for today: Sitting in a cafe, enjoying a coffee and just watching people. Their behavior is a real goldmine of ideas.

Identifying the root cause can sometimes result in stagnation because the more you delve into the details. The larger the task seems. It is easier to work with the fundamental function of what you aim to achieve. Redirect your thoughts from the problem to the solution. Even though sometimes we are more drawn to solving problems than accepting easy solutions. Find people who are your polar opposite in terms of ideology and approach and bounce ideas off them as they can give you solutions you never thought of. And best to find people who are free thinkers and aren't afraid to tell you the truth.

Breaks in routine, change of habits, etc. As mentioned above, changing your state really sparks the creative process (And creative thinking works in almost all scenarios as working you towards a solution) Changing your location, breaking the day up differently, heck even trying something different for lunch can be enough of a change to stimulate the brain differently for finding creative solutions to the problem you're facing. Different stimulation is a powerful tool for creative solutions.

When you're feeling stuck, it's best to change your frame. If you're indoors, brainstorming etc, just switch off your systems and head out for a random walk, it helps clear your head. I know folks who find inspirations when they are cooking or painting. It's when your mind is in a happy place, ideas will buzz.

That's 100% true. By changing your state for a while just helps you to make a fresh mind again. If you feel stuck then please do not push it too much and leave it for a while. Do whatever which makes you happy and divert you for a while, then you will be soon able to return to your path more effectively.

I wrote a post recently that described a Mathematician's use of music to become unstuck. As a Coach - music, exercise, time in nature - laughing with friends and family all move the needle for me, helping me get unstuck!

Change your environment! Sometimes a change of scenery can trigger fresh ideas. Move to a different room, go for a walk, or even work in a new location like a café or park.

This is where masterminds can come in very handy. Ask any mastermind you are in and brainstorm with them. They may even have a readymade solution of what worked for them. I've also had some success with asking people outside of the industry the challenge arose from. Especially if it's not too niche of an issue. They can bring fresh ideas. While that may not solve the challenge, it can give you inspiration as to alternative ways to solve your dilemma.

Jot down all the ideas that come to your mind, without judging them initially. The goal is to gather a wide range of thoughts, which can then be refined and combined into more concrete ideas.

Another important point that has always helped me generate new ideas is to ensure that I collaborate with very different minds than mine. By understanding our own style, we can approach others that think, behave, and feel differently. For example, as a more big-picture person, I will connect with those people around me that are more into details. If I am more people oriented, I will ask those that are more analytical or task oriented to give me their way of seeing the problem. As a coach, I also use a lot tools that reframe perspectives - what would I have done 20 years ago, or what would I do when I retire? What would my father do? What would Richard Branson do in my shoes? Or even what would I do if I left all my fears behind?

Get your idea out of your head. It's easier to see the full picture when the idea has room to grow and move around. So get it out. Share it. Sit with it. Write it down. Say it out loud. Paint it. Move it. Feel it. Taste it Bounce it around. There are many ways to breathe creativity back in once you get it out and explore it.

One of the most effective ways I've found to loosen up and invite creativity back to the party is to examine a thought and ask, "how is that not true?" Our minds love to show us all the ways something won't work so kick in higher-level thinking by challenging that negativity bias. Another way to turn things around is to ask, "what would I do if that weren't true?"

People tend to get stuck when they allow their self-critical voice to drive them to perfectionism. This actually stunts their ability to grow and develop new ideas. Use writer Julia Cameron's suggestion—do artist's pages daily. If you write three pages of stream-of-consciousness words, phrases, or thoughts—without allowing yourself to think or edit—it truly frees your conscious mind from the doubts, memories, worries, and insecurities of the subconscious. When the mind feels free after an exercise like that, its myriad connections can perform their creative and innovative magic.

One thing I've found when helping anyone become unstuck is their ability to Think differently when the right questions are asked. As an NLP specialist, we use the meta-model which helps any individual understand where distortions, deletions and generalisations support the sense of being stuck. Using external prompts and tools gives a new perspective of what's possible and solutions can be found quickly.

Experiment, trial and error etc work well. Just don't be afraid to keep trying something if it fails the first few times. I found subconscious instruction hard at first. EG just before bed, ask your brain to solve a challenge overnight such as "find a creative solution to this work problem." It rarely woke me up but didn't solve the problem. I treated it like a ChatGPT prompt and asked different ways, eventually finding ones that work for me. So don't be afraid to experiment and remember: "If at first you don't succeed, try again." Also, different solutions will work better with different problems. Don't dwell on "what's for dinner" overnight, but maybe think hard about how to get out of that sticky situation at work.

Are you locked into one way, even if that way doesn't and isn't working for you? Consider this: There's never just one way to do something. What works for someone else may not work for you. Yes, it's important to test things out. Take a look at what works, and what doesn't. Then ask Is this the right way, the best way with the best possible outcome for me (and my family/team)? If it's not, am I willing to accept a different outcome? Am I open to alternatives? 🤔 What would need to happen in order for me to reach my desired goal?

When you have exhausted all ideas, experimentation works. One needs to analyze what peers and competition are doing that we are not. This will showcase some ideas worthwhile experimenting with. The key is to look for feedback and understand what worked in the experiment and what did not work.

The key is to stay open to different approaches and be patient with yourself. Creativity can't always be forced, so it's okay to take breaks and return to the problem later with a fresh perspective.

⛔️ Stop filling the color within the boundaries. Give yourself an opportunity to be creative. Leverage your and your teams diverse experiences and skillset to come up with solutions. I use the "limitless opportunities" approach with my team. We all assume that there are no constraints while coming up with new ideas. This approach helps generate new ideas without our own biases come in our way. Once we all like the idea, we identify the possible constraints together as a group and find ways to address them.

Diverse thinking is a remedy for creative blocks. When I'm stuck and seeking new ideas, I often use my "phone a friend" lifeline. I've come to value those with differing viewpoints and experiences, as they challenge my ideas, ultimately enhancing them and pulling me out of the weeds. Diverse thinkers spark creative insights that might not emerge otherwise and provide a broader range of potential solutions.

And, yet and maybe are powerful words to keep the creativity flowing. "This didn't work last time AND we can try a new approach to see what we learn." "We don't have the resources YET." "MAYBE we don't have all the pieces we need to find the solution. What else can we consider? Who else can we ask?"

All we need is within us, and when we collaborate and bring the best within each one of us the results are astounding. A modality called PSYCH-K is a unique modality that gives you access to the part of your mind that is unlimited and truly authentic in everyway.