To make sense of the world around us we filter the multitude of information available to us. And our version of reality is dependant on our own unique perspective, our beliefs and our attitude. And so, we tend to get stuck in specific thought patterns and the comfort zone of familiarity in how we tackle challenges. To paraphrase Picasso all creation is an act of destruction. Breaking our habitual thought patterns will help us consider challenges more creatively and generate fresh ideas and novel thinking. Below are some suggestions of how to break routine thinking patterns to create entirely new possibilities. Try introducing new catalysts into your life that stimulate your thinking and compel you to adopt a fresh perspective and consider new ideas. These catalysts can be as simple as changing our daily patterns, spending time with a diverse group of people, taking in information outside of our usual area of interest and considering how completely different industries solve similar problems. Whatever we do the objective is to stay receptive and open to new influences, ideas and opinions. This increases our capacity to move from "the way we've always done things" and towards creating new and different connections. A link to the complete article is available at: http://lifetravelling.com/2009/07/breaking-connections-making-connections/ If you'd like to get creatively fitter you might like to join the Fresh Ideas, Creative Thinking discussion group. Isobel