Nurturing Outstanding Thinking, Insight, Discovery and Creativity

As I was reading this chapter on nurturing innovative, creative thinking, I kept thinking of another book that I have enjoyed reading and re-reading over the years, The Creative Spirit....

In this book, as in Forni's chapter on the same subject, the authors explain how creative, new ideas are generated by great thinking and a supportive environment.  Forni lists the following suggested ways to "Pave the way to Eureka!"

1. Believe in  yourself and in your cognitive and creative abilities.
2. Start looking at innovations in all sorts of fields and studying the process from idea to realization that brought them into being.
3. Keep paying attention to the world around you.
4. Ask "Why?"
5. Fill your pockets with written observations or questions and chances are you will find some interesting connections among them, this may lead you to insight.
6. Connecting things that are far apart from one another allows brilliant people to widen and deepen knowledge and to solve problems.
7. Keep your curiosity and enthusiasm alive and healthy.
8. Flexibility is essential.
9. Find a good environment for thinking and find the time for thinking.