Tired of always doing the same things over and over again? Check out these 7 awesome examples of thinking outside the box!
Are you struggling to find that creativity in you? Do you feel like you hit a brick wall? Does it seem that you always end up doing the same things over and over again?
Then you need to start learning how to think out of the box.
Thinking out of the box has many benefits regardless of the industry you belong to. It improves your output. It makes your mind become sharper.
It also helps you stand out from the pack.
But what are the best examples of thinking outside the box that you can follow? Continue reading below as we discuss some of the best ways below.
One of the best examples of thinking out of the box involves the word “questions.” The world already has too many questions, but it doesn’t mean you should stop asking.
If your work routine is the biggest hurdle that’s keeping your creativity from coming out, confront it by asking “why?”
Why do you always do things that way in the office? Why is it the best way to do things? From there, you can come up with answers that will free your creative mind.
Don’t be afraid to question the status quo. That is one of the best ways to foster innovation. If people stopped asking questions, there would be no more room for improvement.
People will begin to stagnate and fall into mediocrity.
The problem with most people is that they are not adaptable to change. Perhaps they are but they do not know yet. Hence, you need to start somewhere by regularly asking questions.
Apart from asking “why,” take it to the next level by asking your superiors “what if?” If there are two contrasting points of view on the table, compare them side-by-side. Involve your team in resolving the problem.
Challenge the strategic status quo and start getting out of that creativity rut you are in.
Another great example that will help you think out of the box is studying another religion. Take note that you don’t have to be religious to pull this off. Think as if you are learning a new subject in school.
But you may ask “why religion?” Religion is a platform where people can express their relationship not only with a divine being but also with the people around them.
From there, you can get a different perspective on the structure of the relationships. You will see how people from another religion take in certain truths and respond to them in the way they live.
You will get to compare the differences in what you believe and discover your religion’s limitations. In essence, studying another religion will help flex your mind to levels you never reached before.
When was the last time you took a pen and paper and drew? If you are brainstorming for a solution, consider drawing a picture. Visualize the problem by drawing it on a piece of paper.
From there, draw any and every form of solution you may think of. When you draw, you are using the right side of your brain. This is your brain’s creative side.
In turn, it will help loosen the hold of your left brain on the way you think.
It is the left brain that puts logic in your decisions. When you draw, you will loosen its grasp on your creativity. You will start thinking out of the box.
Start by engaging yourself and your team to draw a picture. Instruct everyone to illustrate how “thinking out of the box” looks to them. Thereafter, gather everyone’s drawings and have everyone explain their respective illustrations.
Focus on the key elements of the pictures. Zoom in on the aspects that elicit the feeling of excitement, energy, and randomness. When you merge all these elements, you can come up with unique ideas for solving the problem.
Believe it or not, hypnosis not only helps to free your mind from stress. It can also help resolve different kinds of conflicts. Interestingly, there are 7 ways hypnosis solves problems.
One of the most notable ones is it can help you get rid of your bad habits. Bad habits do not only involve addiction to smoking or substance abuse. It also covers the habit of negative thinking.
Sometimes, you end up with disorganized thoughts. When this happens, doubt can easily creep in. In turn, you will have second thoughts on proceeding with an idea instead of taking risks.
Sometimes, the most complex of problems require solutions coming from the most unexpected sources. If you are having a hard time solving a problem, talk to a child, and get wisdom from a pure heart and mind.
Because a child’s mind is ignorant of conventions, there are no limits to their way of formulating problems. Take a cue from their vivid imaginations and draw inspiration to innovate.
Keep in mind that you don’t need to follow the child’s solution. What you need to embrace is the way they understand the problem to solve without minding any possible boundaries and roadblocks.
As adults, we tend to end up following systems in doing things. At work, there are certain rules and methods that you follow. But when a conundrum seems too insurmountable, you may need to stray a bit from the path.
You may need to embrace randomness. Invite randomness and let your mistakes be part of the solution. This means creating new strategies that make room for random inputs.
Last but not least, you need to start writing again. And not with your laptop but with your pen and paper.
Similar to drawing, writing exercises the right side of the brain. For starters, try writing a poem with your problem as the main topic or theme. This will help release your creativity and imagination.
You don’t need to create a grandiose poem. All you need is to free your thoughts, which is a key to thinking out of the box.
