Once you identify a problem, the next step in the Bright IDEAS system is to start defining possible solutions.
Often, people think there are no good solutions to the problem. In reality, even the most difficult problems have possible alternatives.
Tip: Be creative with solutions! Brainstorming involves thinking outside the box.
When defining your options, use brainstorming to think of as many alternative solutions as possible and write them down. Do not judge the options at first—just record your ideas. If your first choice does not work out the way you want, it is important to have lots of backup options.
Case study: Maya defines her options
Problem: My husband and I fight many mornings about whether to make Eva go to school.
Maya brainstorms as many possible solutions to this problem as she can. She lists the solutions she has already tried and generates as many new ideas as she can think of. Maya tries not to limit herself, so she writes down all possible solutions—even the ones she knows seem ridiculous.
List of possible solutions
- My husband takes full responsibility for dealing with the children every morning.
- Ignore the problem and don’t try to make Eva go to school.
- Talk to the school to see if they will allow Eva to start later in the day.
- Let Eva decide on her own whether she goes to school.
- Take turns with my husband—alternate the days we are responsible for getting Eva up and to school.
- Throw cold water on Eva to wake her up.
- Have Eva set an alarm clock to wake herself up each morning.
- Make Matthew, our oldest child, responsible for getting Eva up.
- Divorce my husband so we don’t argue anymore.
- Make lots of noise in the morning (bang pots and pans) to wake Eva.
- Take away Eva’s phone if she doesn’t go to school.
- Give Eva rewards (like choosing what the family eats for dinner) for waking up to go to school.
Rate your options
For each option or possible solution that you generate, ask yourself the following questions:
- Will this solve the problem?
- Can I really carry this out?
- Are the short- and long-term effects on me positive or negative?
- Are the short- and long-term effects on others positive or negative?
Case study: Maya rates her options
Here is how Maya rated all her options. For Maya, a (+) means yes or positive; a (-) means no or negative; and a (0) means not sure.
| Possible solutions | Will this option solve the problem? | Can I really carry this out? | What are the overall effects on me (short and long term)? | What are the overall effects on others (short and long term)? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Ask my husband to take full responsibility for dealing with the children every morning. | 0 | 0 | 0/+ | - |
| 2. Ignore the problem and don't try to make Eva go to school. | - | - | - | - |
| 3. Talk to the school to see if they will allow Eva to start at a later time. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. Let Eva decide on her own whether she goes to school. | - | - | - | - |
| 5. Take turns with my husband—alternate the days we are responsible for getting Eva up and to school. | 0 | + | 0/+ | 0/+ |
| 6. Have Eva set an alarm clock to wake herself up each morning. | 0 | + | + | + |
| 7. Make Matthew, our oldest child, responsible for getting Eva up. | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| 8. Divorce my husband—we won't argue anymore. | - | - | - | - |
| 9. Make lots of noise in the morning (bang pots and pans) to wake Eva. | - | + | 0/- | 0/- |
| 10. Take away Eva's phone if she doesn't go to school. | + | + | 0 | 0 |
| 11. Give Eva rewards (like choosing the family dinner) for waking up in time to go to school. | 0 | + | +/- | 0 |