Think Outside the Box

Learning How to Think Outside the Box is Life-Changing!

Have you ever heard the saying, “Think outside the box?” Of course you have! It’s a saying that has been thrown around at work and in countless self-help books, including a few I’ve published. Having the ability to think outside the box usually creates unique solutions to the most unusual of problems, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.

We are all creative, but it can be difficult to tap into the creativity within us if our minds are constrained by pressures, time, or judgment. For this reason, some of us may have difficulty thinking outside the box since it involves going outside of our snug comfort zone.

Leaving the Familiar Path

Thinking outside the box means you’re leaving the realm of familiarity by going well beyond what you have established as your boundaries. When you do this, you’ll unlock new ways of thinking and unique solutions to nagging problems. Others may look at your ideas with skepticism or disbelief, but that’s because it’s outside of their comfort zones, too! And that’s okay because you are the trailblazer.

So how do you leave that familiar path and think outside the box? You do it by expanding your comfort zone. Right now, you’re stuck in this maze of confined thinking. This is because we are all trained from a young age to think and act a certain way. In reality, there isn’t just one way to think. There really are countless ways of getting things done! This is exactly why we need to keep an open mind and remove all barriers.

You can learn how to develop the desire to be, think and act differently than everyone else, but it requires you to do things you may be uncomfortable doing. For example, speaking up in a crowd, going against common wisdom, or asking questions that no one else asks. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s the only way to expand your comfort zone and see things in a new way.

Do you think that Albert Einstein or Alexander Graham Bell stuck to conventional wisdom? Of course not! They took their thinking to entirely new levels in order to discover theories and inventions that have changed the course of the world today.

The key lesson here is that if something doesn’t work, you may have to think about it from another angle. Turn the page upside down if you have to!

Always remember that you can test and tweak things until it’s just right. Don’t beat yourself up if you fail because failure is necessary for significant growth and improvement.

Characteristics of Thought

There are certain characteristics associated with thinking outside the box. These characteristics include:

• Listening to and evaluating new perspectives
• Thinking about and discussing topics with substance
• Envisioning the value of wacky ideas
• Always striving to create new, improved ways to get things done
• Respecting the opinions and ideas of others

It may be a challenge to see the world in a whole new way, but it’s not impossible. You may be required to recognize a good idea and be able to act upon it immediately. You also have to know that new ideas need to be nurtured and supported in order for them to flourish. By keeping these things in mind, you are well on your way to accepting the challenge to think and grow outside the box.

Discover Simple Tricks to Stop Overthinking and Find Mental Peace

Are you overthinking to the point of paralysis and fear? Is your mind filled with so many thoughts that you don’t know what to do next or how to handle it? If overthinking is causing you to struggle, you’ll be glad to know that it’s possible to find mental peace again.

You can learn to calm your mind, achieve greater focus, and find the direction that is right for you!

Use these techniques to help quiet your mind and experience greater peace:

Avoid obsessing about completely silencing the mind. You may wish that you could stop your thoughts altogether. However, this isn’t the best tactic for dealing with overthinking. The more you try to stop thinking, the more your thoughts will flow. The opposite of what you want actually starts to happen.

Understand that you’ll always have thoughts. All human beings have thoughts. Recognize this is a normal process. Although you can learn to silence your mind in certain situations, you can achieve great peace by learning to take control of what you think, instead.

Make every effort to not judge your thoughts. It’s tempting to get upset if you have negative thoughts or emotions. You may be quick to judge and try to squash them. Instead of judging and criticizing your thoughts, accept them for normal human emotions. Acknowledge them and then move on.

Learn to love your mind. This will help your mind calm down because you won’t be fighting internally. Remember, you wouldn’t be able to appreciate the positive thoughts if you never had negative ones.

Try to stay present and embrace the concept of “Be Here Now”. Overthinking often comes because you’re worried about the future or regret something that has already happened. You allow stress and anxiety to take over. You start imagining different outcomes, with most of them being negative, and you start living in fear. If you stay in the present moment, then fear can’t take over, and overthinking isn’t an issue. You’re able to focus on what you have to do each day to survive and thrive.

Be okay with the world. The word okay doesn’t mean perfection. It also doesn’t mean awful. It’s the balance between positive and negative. It’s the thin line between them that allows you to find mental peace. Being okay also means that you learn to accept what is happening in your life. Being okay may mean that you learn to love where you’re at and what you’re doing right now. You learn to appreciate what you have and the people around you.

It’s so very important to find gratitude in the little things. You don’t have to pretend that negative things don’t exist, but you can avoid focusing on them. Center your attention on appreciating life.

Your thoughts can save you, but they can also destroy you. Your mind can be a busy place, so it’s important to learn ways to deal effectively with some of the thoughts. Strategies like these can help you deal with your overthinking so you can find peace.

See How Easily You Can Boost Your Flexible Thinking Skills

Neuroscientists, educators, and psychologists sometimes call it cognitive shifting, but you may know it better as flexible thinking. However you describe it, it refers to your brain’s ability to shift gears from one subject to another.

Flexible thinking also plays a major role in your happiness and productivity.

Even if you know that flexible thinking is good for you, you may resist it because it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar. However, you can overcome those obstacles with practice.

Take a look at the benefits of becoming more adaptable and strategies to help you loosen up.

The Benefits of Flexible Thinking to Learn How to Think Outside the Box

Many studies have found that flexible thinking is associated with enhanced brain function. You’re likely to enjoy greater mental and physical health, higher levels of fluid intelligence, and many other advantages. Consider these benefits:

• Cope with change. Flexible thinking helps you to accept that change is natural. You’ll adapt to new circumstance faster and experience less stress.
• Stay updated. Applying new information keeps you from becoming stuck in the past. You can master the latest technology or follow revised guidelines on nutrition.
• Find solutions. Recognizing a wider range of options makes you more adept at resolving difficulties. You’ll see that there’s more than one way to repair your dishwasher or discipline your children.
• Transform your relationships. You help others feel validated and respected when you look at a situation from their perspective. You’ll feel closer and encounter fewer conflicts.
• Avoid frustration. Why miss out on life because you’re clinging to old expectations? Try a different coffee shop if your favorite hangout closes down.

Techniques to Increase Flexibility to Begin to Think Outside the Box

Would you believe that playing video games can strengthen your flexible thinking? Many effective exercises for your brain are simple and fun. Try these techniques:

Practice mindfulness. Observing your thoughts without judgment and living in the present makes you more agile. Try meditating or just cutting back on distractions.

Play with words. Language affects how you think. For example, humor is often based on words having multiple meanings. Study jokes or invent your own. You could also read more poetry and drama, and work on expanding your vocabulary.

Invent games. Shake things up the next time you play cards. Create your own house rules.

Explore functional fixity. Take an ordinary object and imagine 3 alternative uses. For example, you could pick tennis balls or staple removers.

Talk to yourself. Stress interferes with creativity. Use your self-talk to provide reassurance and guidance when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Ask yourself questions that will clarify your priorities.

Alter your routine. Small steps add up when you’re trying to break out of a rut. Buy a different brand of shampoo or ride your bike to work instead of driving.

Exercise regularly. Physical and mental well being are interrelated. Work out at least 3 days a week and incorporate more activity into your daily life. Studies show that aerobic exercise is especially beneficial for stimulating creativity.

Sleep well. Rest and relaxation are also essential for keeping your brain in top condition. In addition to planning for 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, focus on getting enough REM sleep, which is when most of your dreams take place.

Upgrade your diet. What you eat can strengthen or weaken flexible thinking. Cut back on processed foods, especially those high in sugar, while introducing more fermented foods into your diet. Also, omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in fatty fish, enhance many cognitive functions.

Use flexible thinking to deal with life’s challenges. You’ll feel more confident and behave more skillfully, even when you’re faced with unexpected demands or last-minute changes.

Stop Overthinking and Find Mental Peace by Learning How to Think Outside the Box

Are you overthinking to the point of paralysis and fear? Is your mind filled with so many thoughts that you don’t know what to do next or how to handle it? If overthinking is causing you to struggle, you’ll be glad to know that it’s possible to find mental peace again.

You can learn to calm your mind, achieve greater focus, and find the direction that is right for you!

Use these techniques to help quiet your mind and experience greater peace:

Avoid obsessing about completely silencing the mind. You may wish that you could stop your thoughts altogether. However, this isn’t the best tactic for dealing with overthinking. The more you try to stop thinking, the more your thoughts will flow. The opposite of what you want actually starts to happen.

Understand that you’ll always have thoughts. All human beings have thoughts. Recognize this is a normal process. Although you can learn to silence your mind in certain situations, you can achieve great peace by learning to take control of what you think, instead.

Avoid judging your thoughts. It’s tempting to get upset if you have negative thoughts or emotions. You may be quick to judge and try to squash them. Instead of judging and criticizing your thoughts, accept them for normal human emotions. Acknowledge them and then move on.

Learn to love your mind. This will help your mind calm down because you won’t be fighting internally. Remember, you wouldn’t be able to appreciate the positive thoughts if you never had negative ones.

Try to stay present. Overthinking often comes because you’re worried about the future or regret something that has already happened. You allow stress and anxiety to take over. You start imagining different outcomes, with most of them being negative, and you start living in fear. If you stay in the present moment, then fear can’t take over, and overthinking isn’t an issue. You’re able to focus on what you have to do each day to survive and thrive.

Be okay with the world around you. The word okay doesn’t mean perfection. It also doesn’t mean awful. It’s the balance between positive and negative. It’s the thin line between them that allows you to find mental peace. Being okay also means that you learn to accept what is happening in your life. Being okay may mean that you learn to love where you’re at and what you’re doing right now.

You learn to appreciate what you have and the people around you. It’s important to find gratitude in the little things. You don’t have to pretend that negative things don’t exist, but you can avoid focusing on them. Center your attention on appreciating life.

Your thoughts can save you, but they can also destroy you. Your mind can be a busy place, so it’s important to learn ways to deal effectively with some of the thoughts so that you may be more creative and productive. Strategies like these can help you deal with your overthinking so you can find peace. Learning how to think outside the box will be life-changing, and who knows where this strategy may lead you!

I’m Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, independent publisher, and serial entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and would love to connect with you. If you’re new to the world of online entrepreneurship please check out my training on how to sell yourself at Sell Yourself and Your Stuff and learn how to gain an unfair advantage when it comes to building a lucrative online business.