Post Category → Personal

The “Just look at it” hack to problem solving

This past week I was faced with a difficult problem.  A really difficult problem.

In fact, it was painfully difficult.  And I was struck with a flood of emotions: fear, anxiety, despair, etc.

I just wanted to sleep and not deal with it.

But instead, I did the “Just look at it” hack.

The “Just look at it” hack is something I’ve been thinking about the past few weeks.  The essence is that if you just face a challenging problem by looking at it, then your brain will naturally respond with creativity and ideas to overcome and solve the problem.  In other words, you don’t need to try to solve the problem with your raw effort.  Rather, just stare at the problem and let you brain do the work for you.

I printed out all my notes regarding my difficult problem onto two 8.5 x11 pieces of paper.  And then I went to the couch in my living room, and just stared at it.  I told myself, “you don’t need to solve it or fix it right away.  You don’t need to do anything but just look at it and let your brain think about it.”  So that’s what I did.

I sat for about an hour, just staring at the two pieces of paper and letting my brain do it’s work.  Then, it started to happen.  One by one ideas started to form and I began jotting them down.  No magic moment of epiphany, yet.

I kept going and in another hour or two, I was getting epiphany.  I had the solution to my really difficult problem.  And my fear and despair turned to ecstatic relief and confidence.

So the next time you’re faced with a really difficult problem and you want to run away and not face it, try the “Just look at it” hack.

1.  Jot down all the notes regarding your problem/challenge and print it out.

2.  Just look at the printed notes and let your brain mull it over.

3.  Keep at it.  It’s ok if you start dozing.  Just wake up and keep looking at the printed notes.

4.  When inspiration comes, start taking notes.  But keep going until you get the creative solution you need.

 

Great mind hack, isn’t it?

Original article source. Picture source.


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The Inches We Need Are Everywhere Around Us

This is one of the best inspirational speech I know about. When you’re lack of motivation, take a look at this, or some similar video. It helps!

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily. -Zig Ziglar

 

I don’t know what to say, really. Three minutes to the biggest battle of our professional lives.
All comes down to today, and either, we heal as a team, or we’re gonna crumble. Inch by inch, play by play. Until we’re finished.
We’re in hell right now, gentlemen. Believe me.
And, we can stay here, get the shit kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light.
We can climb outta hell… one inch at a time.
Now I can’t do it for ya, I’m too old.
I look around, I see these young faces and I think, I mean, I’ve made every wrong choice a middle-aged man can make. I, uh, I’ve pissed away all my money, believe it or not.
I chased off anyone who’s ever loved me. And lately, I can’t even stand the face I see in the mirror. You know, when you get old, in life, things get taken from you.
I mean, that’s… that’s… that’s a part of life. But, you only learn that when you start losin’ stuff.
You find out life’s this game of inches, so is football. Because in either game – life or football – the margin for error is so small.
I mean, one half a step too late or too early and you don’t quite make it. One half second too slow, too fast and you don’t quite catch it.
The inches we need are everywhere around us. They’re in every break of the game, every minute, every second.
On this team we fight for that inch. On this team we tear ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch.
We claw with our fingernails for that inch.
Because we know when add up all those inches, that’s gonna make the fucking difference between winning and losing! Between living and dying!
I’ll tell you this, in any fight it’s the guy whose willing to die whose gonna win that inch.
And I know, if I’m gonna have any life anymore it’s because I’m still willing to fight and die for that inch, because that’s what living is, the six inches in front of your face.
Now I can’t make you do it. You’ve got to look at the guy next to you, look into his eyes.
Now I think ya going to see a guy who will go that inch with you.
Your gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team, because he knows when it comes down to it your gonna do the same for him.
That’s a team, gentlemen, and either, we heal, now, as a team, or we will die as individuals.
That’s football guys, that’s all it is. Now, what are you gonna do?

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Goals – Keep Them Secret or Share Them With The World?

You have probably heard about the “Law of attraction“. It says that we should talk about our intentions and goals, visualize them, and it’s more likely to make them happen.

But is it really like this? Take a look at this video where Derek Sivers gives different opinion…

Announcing your plans to others satisfies your self-identity just enough that you’re less motivated to do the hard work needed.

 

I have tried both strategies. For me, works this second.

When I tell to close people around me about my goals, usually I don’t get really big success about those goals.
On the other side, when I keep my goals secret, I am more motivated, and generally I make bigger success in achieving them.

 

What’s your experience with goals, which strategy works for you?

 

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Let The Game Begin


My first post won’t be anything special. What I want to say, is that this site will be some my place to write some of my ideas, about IT or anything else. I will not write regularly. I don’t have wish to become blogger or smth :) I will write when I feel like writing, about what I feel like writing…

Until month ago, I was actively blogging in Serbian, for one year. I will translate some posts from that blog(which is not online anymore) and post here.

Jovica Ilic blog

I hope you like my WordPress theme. If you want something similar, feel free to contact me, maybe we can make some deal.

That’s it for now… time’s up!

 


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