February 2

0 comments

How to Think Outside The Box

minutes remaining

It is very trendy to talk about how to “think or go outside one’s box”. But what does that mean really? Do we all live in boxes? And what does existing outside our box then? What is awaiting us outside the box?

Maybe you think my questions are completely irrelevant and that ”everyone” already knows perfectly well what it means to go (or rather ”think” as it is originally) outside one’s box? That is not my experience.

When I ask people they all have different answers.

Some say it means to do things you don’t dare to do. Others say it means to work with one’s personal development so you grow as a human being.

And some say it is to take on an assignment, look at it with new eyes and execute it in an unconventional way.

I believe going/thinking outside the box is all that. Even to execute an assignment in a conventional way but with new eyes, from another angle.

think outside the box

According to Wikipedia:

Thinking outside the box (also thinking out of the box or thinking beyond the box and, especially in Australia, thinking outside the square) is a metaphor that means to think differently, unconventionally, or from a new perspective. The phrase also often refers to novel or creative thinking.

Wikipedia

The origin of the phrase is unclear but many refer to a particular nine dots puzzle where the idea is to solve how you can connect all the dots with four, or less, straight lines without lifting the pen.

The nine dots is placed in a way that they form a square, a box. The only way to solve this assignment is to draw the lines thru and outside the formed square/box. Most people try to solve the assignment within the square/box they see in their mind.

A Creative Mind Thinks Outside The Box

As I see it, you need a creative mind to think outside the box. We have a vivid and creative mind as children but along the way, growing up, most of us are taught that we have to do, process and execute in certain ways to solve problems and assignments in the ”right” ways.

This style of learning inhibits the free creative mind. Some people are not so good in learning these ”right ways” and keep their creative minds all the way up to adulthood. Does that mean that we who have learned to do everything in ”the right way” are lost when it comes to developing creative thinking outside the box?

The answer is a resounding NO!

Does it mean that we just have to sit and wait for inspiration to be creatively thinking outside the box the day we decide to step away from all the ”right ways” of doing things?

That answer is also a resounding NO!

The secret is…… mental training and to create completely new habits of thinking and doing things. Small, everyday habits. And of course, you need persistence and joy, which neither typically come from a big portion a wonderful bright day “just like that”. Actually, you build up the persistence along with creating, thinking, and doing the new everyday habits and as a consequence, a growing result, the joy comes along because you feel successful in your new creative mind.

Think Outside the Box

When you train like this, focusing on small new habits every day, you activate new synapses in your brain and, voilá, you then have a lot more ways to choose among in your brain to think and solve assignments in general.

Another valuable habit to train your mind is to be curious. More specifically to be curious like a child. Or, in another popular phrase, to have an open mind.

A Curious Mind Thinks Outside the Box

Yes, children are very open minded, and they have a very healthy curiousity. They lack very much a judging mind and they like to know why and how things function, and they even like to know if there is more to find out that they yet don´t know about. This kind of mind really stimulates creative thinking. No boxes at all there!

Last but not least, Do you dare? Do you dare to go where others don´t go? Do you dare to follow your curiousity? Do you dare to look at problems in a way others don’t?

Like the new ways in your brain, you need to paw new ways in your life. Are you ready for that? Where do you want your new ways to lead?

You make the decisions. Think outside the box. Train your brain.

If you would like to start right away to train your brain, click here and receive a free tool to practice directing your thoughts. In addition, for a deeper study, you can receive notification when the next Master Key Experience class opens up for applications.

Read more articles by Monica Petersson

About the author

Monica has more than 20 years of experience of life guiding and coaching and is passionate about helping people make reality of whatever change they desire in their lives. Her background is a longterm specialized education at the University. Today is she working full time in her own company, living her dream which she credits the Master Key Experience.

You may also like...

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Stories Matter - Don't Miss Out!

Get on the list for free updates. 

Join our PRIVATE NEWSLETTER to learn things like "How to create more happiness with less stress" and other exciting stuff.  

It's FREE. Do it now...

>