"Breakthrough thinking is a unique form of problem solving: it involves making a situation better by first raising your expectations much higher than anyone believes possible and then looking for ways to make your vision come true," states Deepak Chopra, M.D.

"Breakthrough" means the removal of a barrier to progress. At some point we all come up against a barrier to our personal progress. It can be a fear, a belief system, a misconception or a mis-understanding. A barrier can show up when we doubt our own ability, or worthiness. A barrier is there when we do not believe something can happen. There are specific tools available to break through those barriers.

In The Aquarian Conspiracy, Marilyn Ferguson suggests we, "Identify some of the outer limits. The very task of identifying those limits serves to focus energy on going toward and beyond them. It creates a different perspective."

The key to breakthrough thinking is adopting a different perspective. Place yourself in the other person's shoes and view the situation from there. Explore ideas from other sources. Even a little shift in your awareness will change your perspective. Look as far as the eye can see and then look further. Vision. Let your imagination break you free from the confines of your physical perspective and move you into the realm where everything and anything is possible.

Ferguson points out the need for high expectations. The power of the self-image-the high or low expectations held by one's parent, one's teacher, oneself-all contribute to the outcome of anything you undertake. Give yourself positive feedback. Surround yourself with people who support you in your goals. Don't question "how" it will be achieved. Trust that it will. Raise your expectations higher than you ever thought possible and watch for the path to be made clear before you.

In the cultivation of the mind, our emphasis should be not on concentration, but on attention. Concentration is a process of forcing the mind to narrow down to a point, whereas attention is without frontiers. —J. Krishnamurti

© Cara Lumen 2005