We live in a "quick fix" culture where, when faced with challenging
problems like "lose some weight", "lift depression", stave-off
economic recession, or "sleep more soundly", we often expect that [in
a world of scientifically rational, straight-line, cause-effect
sequences] there must somewhere be a simple, "off-the-peg",
simple "ANSWER" to every problem.

As we have seen in our discussion of the obesity epidemic, sometimes
the further we analyze a problem, the more potential answers arise,
yet none seems to quite "cut-it" for everyone, particularly if we are
looking for "sustainable" results and even the original question may
become rather less simple and clear than at first appeared,

There are of course, simple cause-effect relationships in the
universe, but our current epidemics of obesity, asthma, food
hypersensitivities and ADHD in children, plus the country's deepening
financial problems, seem to be complex, multifactorial trends which
do not seem to lend themself to directly mental-
analytical "reductionist" solutions.
[see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductionist]

When it comes to finding a way forward with complex multifactorial
challenges and "information-overload" situations, human beings often
manage minor miracles through our "magical" gift of "gut-feeling"
intuition.

Of course, we have to evaluate our intuitions carefully [test them
out in the everyday world] because we are incredibly imaginative
creatures and very prone to "Wishful thinking" or "Denial of the
obvious - but uncomfortable - truth".

We are also highly subject to the self-sabotaging activities of our
own "shadow" [unconscious] feelings, cravings, aversions and desires,
which brings us back to the power of "diversely-based" teams which I
mentioned in my last posting. However, given these caveats, intuitive
solutions have often carried the human race [and individuals] forward
when all else fails...


Creative Solutions via Non-linear, Non-analytical Approaches
------------------------------------------------------------

One morning in 1965 the Beatles' singer-songwriter, Paul McCartney,
awoke with a haunting, moving melody playing in his head. He went
straight to his piano to play it and write it down before he forgot.
The tune was so completely formed that he thought he must have heard
it somewhere, but everyone he asked said they had never hear it
before and would have surely remembered it because it was so
special. Paul added lyrics to it and it became his million-selling,
best-known song, `Yesterday'. A big step forward in his career had
come via an "inspirational", non-analytical, non-linear, process of
spontaneous creativity.

Such "minimal-effort" leaps forward are also "bread-and-butter" in
the world of commerce and business, where the ability to access "gut-
feeling" intuitive actions and decisions are a known feature of
successful entrepreneurs, traders and business managers, who often
have to act on either minimal information or the complete opposite -
situations where there is an overwhelming array of complex and often
contradictory information, or too many interacting variables for a
mechanistic problem-solving approach to be feasible.

"The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success"
------------------------------------
This is the title of Deepak Chopra's classic bestselling book on non-
linear, creative problem-solving...
http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/8174460578/sunflowerheal-21
It's a pity he used "Spiritual" in the title because many who could
benefit from this magnificent piece of work will shun the book as
sounding too "religious" or "New Age" airy-fairy.

The 7 Laws he expounds are:

1. The Law of Pure Potentiality [creative solutions]
2. The Law of Giving & Receiving [ebb & flow!]
3. The Law of Karma [What you sow determines what you reap!]
4. The Law of Least Effort [acting in harmony at right time]
5. The Law of Intention & Desire [initiation / motive-ation]
6. The Law of Detachment [open to a range of outcomes]
7. The Law of Life Purpose [discrimination / focus / congruency]


An Amazing Offer of "The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success" DVD
-------------------------------------------------------------

Amazon UK have a magnificent January-sale offer at the moment on the
DVD follow-up to Deepak Chopra's original manual...

In this latest DVD, Deepak Chopra expounds more on the 7 Laws of
Success with the aid of a range of celebrities who speak of their own
experience of applying the laws. Olivia Newton-John (star of the
musical "Grease") tells her personal story of triumph over hardship,
including the nightmare of facing breast cancer, and also contributes
original new music to the DVD's soundtrack. Other star contributors
include Bill Duke (star of "X-MEN: THE LAST STAND"). The DVD includes
a booklet summarising the 7 laws and the practical exercises to
implement them.

The DVD normally costs £17.99 but is currently on sale for only
£4.78...
http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0010LB02A/sunflowerheal-21
If you spend at least another 32P, you can also get free delivery on
both items. Unfortunately the free delivery offer does not extend to
MP3 downloads or products brought from 3rd party suppliers, but you
could for example buy the
Low Fat Greatest Ever Cookbook for just 99P...
http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0752568477/sunflowerheal-21

Chopra refers to his approach as "transformation of consciousness" -
opening the door to a new way forward.