Positive Thinking and Creative Problem-Solving
The W.I.S.E. Model is a unified framework drawn from five transformative works. The framework brings together ideas from five influential authors across five decades and presents them as a single architecture for peak thinking and creative problem-solving.
The five voices behind this framework are Dr. David O. Oyedepo, author of Winning Wisdom; Dr. Caroline Leaf, author of Switch On Your Brain; Norman Vincent Peale, author of The Power of Positive Thinking; Edward de Bono, author of Lateral Thinking; and James Webb Young, author of A Technique for Producing Ideas. Together, these works contribute different dimensions of thinking, creativity, and personal transformation.
The W.I.S.E. Model consists of four stages. W stands for Wisdom and asks the question, “Where does true insight begin?” This stage is drawn from the teachings of Dr. David Oyedepo. I stands for Inner Architecture and asks, “How do I build a mind that can receive it?” This stage is based on the work of Dr. Caroline Leaf. S stands for Spirit of Possibility and explores the question, “What attitude enables me to act on it?” This stage is influenced by Norman Vincent Peale. E stands for Execution and asks, “How do I channel it into solutions and ideas?” This final stage draws from the work of Edward de Bono and James Webb Young. Each stage depends on the one before it, and together they form a complete architecture for Peak Thinking and Creative Problem-Solving.
The first stage is Winning Wisdom. According to Dr. David Oyedepo, “Winning wisdom is the Supernatural Ability to bring solutions to matters too difficult for the ordinary human mind.” In the context of problem-solving, this means that the greatest answers are received by the prepared thinker, not manufactured. Wisdom is not the reward of more effort; it is the fruit of divine connection. Before developing a strategy, one should first go to the Source, which is God.
Dr. Oyedepo further explains that wisdom is not the same as mental exertion. Wisdom is not thinking harder, researching more, or simply being more disciplined. Rather, wisdom is “Uncovering God's approach to every issue of life.” It involves knowing which way to go before the path is fully visible and represents the application of knowledge rather than its mere accumulation. As Dr. Oyedepo states, “The application of knowledge is what is called wisdom. Until a man amasses adequate knowledge, there will be nothing for him to use.”
This understanding is illustrated through the Knowledge-Wisdom Ladder. The first level is Information, which involves gathering facts, data, and experience. This is where most people begin. The second level is Knowledge, which involves organising and understanding information. Many people stop at this stage. The third level is Wisdom, which is the application of knowledge to produce results. Most people never reach this level. The key insight is that knowledge gives power, while wisdom gives strength. The leap from knowledge to wisdom requires more than study; it requires seeking.
The second stage of the framework is Inner Architecture, based on the work of Dr. Caroline Leaf. Her core discovery is that every thought a person thinks physically changes the structure of the brain. Referencing Romans 12:2, she argues that the brain is not fixed but is instead a living, dynamic architecture that is constantly being built or dismantled. Individuals are not merely products of their neurology; they are its architects. Consequently, the mind that is prepared to think well is also the mind that is positioned to receive wisdom.
This stage creates a critical link with the ideas presented by Dr. Oyedepo. While Dr. Oyedepo teaches that wisdom must be received, Dr. Leaf explains the mechanism through which this reception becomes possible. A healthy and properly structured mind becomes the environment in which wisdom can flourish.