How can you incorporate mindfulness into your problem-solving?

It's our reaction to situations that define them as problems or not. When things go out of our expectations we see them as problems. In today's world having expectations without the competence to achieve them is what is creating 'problems' . If we are mindful of what we can achieve in the moment, and mindful of how to attain the competence to achieve more..most problems won't come up.

In my experience the first step is to not look at the issue as a problem but more as a challenge or opportunity to overcome. Your mindset is “problem solving solution seeking” when faced with the event. Being kind to yourself and accepting that you do not have all the answers allows your mind to provide solutions. It’s like floating on the surface so you can breathe and think rather than being under water.

Mindfulness gets one in the best possible frame of mind to think creatively and freely. We get into a position to consider various aspects, possibilities, evaluate them to ultimately reach an optimum solution. Mindfulness lets one objectively analyze, without getting swayed by emotions. Mindfulness helps one listen to instincts that erupt from their own past experiences, thus leveraging deep knowledge stored in them. So mindfulness truly brings clarity of thought and a deep sense of reflection so one can take their next step in problem solving

Mindfulness nurtures deliberate focus, but, most importantly, one's ability not to judge the situation, considering the fullness of one's mind. This entails honing in on all the ideas and abilities within our grasp to effectively problem-solve.

Often, in the rush to solve a problem, we overlook the power of taking a deliberate pause. Mindfulness teaches us the value of stepping back to gain a broader perspective. This pause can be a moment of deep breathing, a short walk, or simply closing your eyes and centering yourself. It provides an opportunity for the mind to reset and often leads to insights that might not emerge in the midst of continuous mental activity.

Mindfulness allows you to create the space necessary to quiet the mind and prepare it for creative thoughts to flow. That pause quiets the noise and calms the emotions so that you are in an optimal state for creative expression and innovative thought.

Mindfulness is first and foremost about giving our mind a moment to rest. We go through our hectic lives, rarely stopping to pause and reflect. And mindfulness allows us to do just that. It is a practice of directing our focus and awareness to the present moment, and not letting our mind and thoughts wander. By grounding ourself in the present, we can experience much greater mental clarity required when problem-solving.

When you are mindful, you are more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. This can help you to understand yourself better and get into alignment with your Northstar values and beliefs. When you know your values and beliefs, you use them to guide the decisions you make. When your decisions are guided by your values you are more likely to make decisions that lead to positive outcomes. A mindfulness practice will help you to know yourself better and understand your values and beliefs, and these three human skills, deployed together, will help you optimize your decision making.

By clearing your mind of the "clutter" that takes up brain space, you can creatively solve issues that arise. Mindfulness reduces the clutter that takes up a lot of your brain's capacity and helps you exercise different parts of your brain to find a solution. Just yesterday we had an issue pop up at work. At first, I was stressed, overwhelmed and feeling negative about it. But after a quick meditation, I was able to go back to the problem and see it in a whole new light. I was not only not stressed about the issue anymore but actually encouraged to solve it in a creative and efficient way.

Generally when we face a problem, especially in something that was our responsibility, we spiral into negative self-talk. Mindfulness can help us to distance ourselves from the situation and view it with more clarity and understanding.

One of the best ways to be more mindful is to write down your desired outcomes. Having clarity about your end goal will help you stay on track and focused on achieving it.

Doing a mind-body audit before diving into problem-solving creates space transparency, vulnerability and grace. Sometimes we judge ourselves for feeling what we're feeling (particularly when it's time to work on a problem..), and we go into the solution-finding process avoiding what is. Taking the time for a mindfulness exercise before problem-solving can create space to acknowledge the emotions that are coming up, perhaps identify where those emotions are coming from, and find the wisdom that will support us to the answers we're looking for.

Emotions play a significant role in how we approach and solve problems. Mindfulness helps in recognizing and regulating emotions, ensuring they don't overshadow logical and creative thinking. Acknowledging emotions such as frustration or impatience when they arise, and then gently steering the focus back to the problem at hand, can greatly enhance problem-solving abilities.

In my experience with clients, the finest mindfulness practise increases awareness, awareness of your surroundings, awareness of your state of mind, and awareness of your breathing. I recommend taking three "box breaths" and then asking yourself specific questions about your surroundings (e.g. Find three red things, locate two soft objects, one round object)

Mindfulness plays a significant role in helping individuals engage their values, principles, and beliefs when tackling complex problems and making difficult decisions. Here's how it works: Mindfulness involves being present and fully engaged with whatever is happening at the moment. This heightened awareness allows individuals to recognize their own values and beliefs more clearly, and to see how these might influence their approach to problem-solving. By cultivating a deeper understanding of oneself through mindfulness, individuals can more effectively align their actions with their deeper values, rather than superficial or short-term goals.

We can also use a "not to do" list to help us eliminate things that are not essential to the situation at hand, allowing us to focus on ones that matter.

When problem-solving involves teamwork or collaboration, mindful communication becomes key. This involves active listening, being present in discussions, and responding thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively. It fosters a collaborative environment where all voices are heard and considered, leading to more comprehensive and effective solutions.

It is dependent on your participation in problem solving. Active communication, conscious breathing, and increased awareness of your thoughts are essential; nevertheless, if you are the decision-maker after brainstorming for an issue, you must add tremendous composure, firmness, and the creation of a safe environment.

Being mindful of the two types of values - instrumental and terminal - significantly enhances decision-making and planning. Here's how an understanding of these values contributes to better outcomes: Terminal values represent the ultimate goals or end states that one aspires to, such as happiness, success, or personal fulfillment. Instrumental values are the means or methods used to achieve terminal values. These could include traits like honesty, efficiency, or ambition. Mindfulness of both types of values ensures that the methods (instrumental values) are in harmony with the end goals (terminal values).

Mindfulness during the process can include: — walk-and-talks — clear protocols to follow — assigning roles to participants and switching the roles on a regular basis — taking breaks to review progress, process, suggest process tweaks, identify trends and assumptions, remind about values and missions — think/pair/share moments (participants think silently, share with partner, share back to larger group)

Coaches can greatly benefit from practicing mindfulness as a form of self-care after a day of coaching. Here are some ways in which coaches might incorporate mindfulness into their routine: Mindful Breathing Guided Meditation Body Scan Meditation Mindful Walking Journaling Gratitude Practice Mindful Listening to Music Yoga or Gentle Stretching Digital Detox By incorporating these mindfulness practices into their routine, coaches can take care of their mental and emotional well-being, which is essential for them to be effective and empathetic in their coaching roles. These practices help in managing stress, staying grounded, and maintaining a balanced perspective.

As a coach, I often emphasize the importance of mindfulness in all stages of problem-solving, including after the task is completed. It's crucial to take a moment to calmly reflect on what was learned and to recognize your efforts. Practices like deep breathing, meditation can greatly aid in releasing any lingering stress and recentering your focus. Journaling about the experience provides valuable insights, while a gratitude practice fosters a positive mindset. All these techniques are about restoring balance and preparing you mentally and emotionally for future challenges, a critical aspect of personal and professional growth.

Self-reflection and documenting our takeaways after problem-solving allows us to build our own resilience playbook. The Army taught me the importance of an AAR (After Action Review) to identify what worked, what didn't and how to adjust for the unexpected in future projects. I'm a big fan of journaling to capture the lessons we won't want to forget after solving problems in our lives. Taking the time for self-reflection and reviewing the situation without the pressures of being in it can be a great way to cement our learning, encourage ourselves and honor our capacity to overcome challenges.

Mindfulness is not just about being present during the problem-solving process but also reflecting on it afterward. Consider what was learned, how emotions were managed, and what strategies were effective. This reflective practice can turn each problem-solving experience into a learning opportunity, enriching personal and professional growth.

This can be so helpful! Mindfulness after the process can include: — individual and group reflections — gratitude circles — identifying next steps — identifying emotional reactions to the outcome

To effectively integrate mindfulness into problem-solving, make it a part of your daily routine. Regular mindfulness practices such as meditation, mindful walking, or even mindful eating can help in cultivating a mindset that is more receptive, calm, and creative.