Your Best Computer
Of all your devices and computers, and of all the best computers in the world, your mind is even more powerful. It is faster, can access more data in storage and it’s always working. Its job is to solve problems so you can enjoy a successful life. Unfortunately, certain problems can freeze or mess up your computer, and it gives you wrong answers.
In 1951, L. Ron Hubbard wrote an exercise you can use to help you improve the performance of your mind. It takes several minutes and your full attention to work. The solutions you will discover are fantastic.
This procedure can help you solve big, difficult problems, by yourself, right now, on your own. By answering the questions, you look at your problems from different angles and your mind gives you fresh answers. The answers just come to you.
“Problems do not solve for two reasons: The first is lack of data; the second is an earlier unsolved problem on the same subject.”
“This will become clearer to you when you have completed the following exercise.”
1. “LIST FIVE PROBLEMS, WITH PEOPLE OR OBJECTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH YOU ARE NOT SOLVING IN THE PRESENT.”
2. “NOW LIST WHAT YOU WISH YOU KNEW ABOUT EACH ONE OF THE PROBLEMS ABOVE (THE MISSING DATA YOU WISH YOU HAD.)”
3. “NOW LIST HOW IMPORTANT YOU NOW FEEL THESE PROBLEMS ACTUALLY ARE, OR WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE NOW SOLVED.”
4. “IF ANY OF THE FIVE PROBLEMS REMAIN UNSOLVED, LIST WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO TO SOLVE THEM.”
“Now let us take a glance at the past. There are several problems, undoubtedly, which you feel you did not solve.
5. “LIST FIVE PROBLEMS, WITH PEOPLE OR OBJECTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH YOU FEEL YOU DID NOT SOLVE IN THE PAST.”
6. “NOW LIST WHAT YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN ABOUT EACH ONE OF THE PROBLEMS ABOVE.”
7. “NOW LIST HOW IMPORTANT THESE PROBLEMS ACTUALLY ARE TO YOUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.”
8. “IF ANY OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS STILL BOTHER YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE TO DO OR TO KNOW IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THEM?”
“Let us now take a look at the problems of the future.
9. “LIST FIVE PROBLEMS, WITH PEOPLE OR OBJECTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH YOU THINK YOU WILL HAVE TO SOLVE IN THE FUTURE.”
10. “NOW LIST WHAT YOU WILL HAVE TO DO NOW TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.”
11. “NOW LIST HOW VITAL THESE PROBLEMS MAY BECOME TO YOUR EXISTENCE.”
12. “IF ANY OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS WORRY YOU, IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT DECIDED UPON YOUR COURSE OF ACTION. TRY TO LIST YOUR COURSE AS IT WILL PROBABLY BE TAKEN.” — L. Ron Hubbard
If you can’t answer a question, just skip it and try to answer the next question. If you reach the end of this exercise and your mind has not yet given you great solutions to your problems, repeat the 12 steps until your mind works better.
Example
Mary was worried about her 23-year-old daughter, Jill, who was always drunk. Jill loved going to parties and waking up in a different bed each night. All Jill wanted from her mom was money and Mary was worried that if she didn’t give her money, Jill would never talk to her again.
One night, Jill was arrested for drinking while driving and Mary had to bail her out. Mary said, “That’s it! I’m not going to give you any more money or bail you out again.”
Jill didn’t argue or promise anything. She knew she could talk her mom into giving her money in a few days. Of course, that night, Jill went to a party and got drunk again.
Mary was so worried she couldn’t sleep or enjoy her life.
In this example, we see how Mary uses this exercise to solve this problem.
1. “LIST FIVE PROBLEMS, WITH PEOPLE OR OBJECTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH YOU ARE NOT SOLVING IN THE PRESENT.”
Jill keeps drinking and getting into trouble. I’m worried she will hurt herself or someone else.
2. “NOW LIST WHAT YOU WISH YOU KNEW ABOUT EACH ONE OF THE PROBLEMS ABOVE (THE MISSING DATA YOU WISH YOU HAD.)”
Why does she drink so much? What can I say or do to change her mind? Should I keep giving her money? Who can I hire to help me? How can I make Jill talk to me.
3. “NOW LIST HOW IMPORTANT YOU NOW FEEL THESE PROBLEMS ACTUALLY ARE, OR WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE NOW SOLVED.”
Very important!
4. “IF ANY OF THE FIVE PROBLEMS REMAIN UNSOLVED, LIST WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO TO SOLVE THEM.”
Probably stop giving her money, but then she might never talk to me again.
5. “LIST FIVE PROBLEMS, WITH PEOPLE OR OBJECTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH YOU FEEL YOU DID NOT SOLVE IN THE PAST.”
My best friend in high school was a drinker. I drank with her and thought it was fun. She got drunk and started a fist fight with her boyfriend. He hit her so hard that she lost an eye. She dropped out of school, and I never heard from her again. I felt terrible.
6. “NOW LIST WHAT YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN ABOUT EACH ONE OF THE PROBLEMS ABOVE.”
I didn’t know what was really going on with her. I didn’t try to find out.
7. “NOW LIST HOW IMPORTANT THESE PROBLEMS ACTUALLY ARE TO YOUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.”
Not important.
8. “IF ANY OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS STILL BOTHER YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE TO DO OR TO KNOW IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THEM?”
Nothing.
9. “LIST FIVE PROBLEMS, WITH PEOPLE OR OBJECTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH YOU THINK YOU WILL HAVE TO SOLVE IN THE FUTURE.”
If Jill doesn’t straighten out and get sober, she might be hurt or worse.
10. “NOW LIST WHAT YOU WILL HAVE TO DO NOW TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.”
I need to dive in and see what is going on with Jill ASAP. I wish I’d done that with my friend in high school.
11. “NOW LIST HOW VITAL THESE PROBLEMS MAY BECOME TO YOUR EXISTENCE.”
Very important.
12. “IF ANY OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS WORRY YOU, IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT DECIDED UPON YOUR COURSE OF ACTION. TRY TO LIST YOUR COURSE AS IT WILL PROBABLY BE TAKEN.” — L. Ron Hubbard
My plan is to set up a meeting and get Jill to tell me the truth no matter what it takes. I will tell her NO MORE MONEY until we meet. I will then spend hours with her until she agrees to change her bad habits. I will use all the love and passion I can find in me to deal with this. I will not give up until Jill is handled.
This is an awesome plan. I wish I’d done this years ago!
Mary meets with her daughter Jill. At first, Jill is very resistant, but then she feels relieved to tell her mom all the details. They have not talked this long or this honestly in many years. Mary is happy to learn the missing parts of the puzzle. They both feel wonderful
Mary and Jill work together to end the drinking problem and work on Jill’s career. They look forward to maintaining their new, close relationship for many years to come.