Thinking outside of the box is a time-tested phrase intended to spur creativity and disruption! It’s a method of tackling obstacles in an innovative fashion, diagnosing and analyzing problems with a unique approach. 

Thinking outside of the box entails questioning assumptions, re-imagining the rules, working backwards, asking for advice, and genuinely feeling comfortable being UNCOMFORTABLE. This method of brainstorming encourages you to explore all the possibilities, no matter how random or unconventional the idea may seem. 

Disruptive thinking of this sort emphasizes EVOLUTION, change, growth. The BOX in this content is the norm, and we want to burst through the edges of the box to remove all the self-imposed limits we place on our imagination. Original thought can only be produced with a blank slate, without boundaries. 

Thinking out of the box requires you to suspend yourself from all preconceived notions about who, what, when, where, why, and how. An open and flexible mind also allows one to effortlessly adapt to unforeseen circumstances and/or respond to unexpected situations. You do not need to be a GENIUS to think outside of the box, by embracing little changes in your daily life, your problem solving, and analytical skills will naturally improve over time.

Quote: "Creativity, as has been said, consists largely of rearranging what we know in order to find out what we do not know. Hence, to think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted." – George Kneller

Rearranging what we know doesn’t necessarily mean reinventing the wheel, it can simply consist of connecting seemingly unconnected ideas to improve upon the current solution, method, or best practice. Thinking outside of the box is about not accepting failure on the first attempt; peeling back the many layers of the onion to exhaust all creative outlets before throwing in the towel. 

Today, I’d like to share a short story with y’all that my Grandfather shared with ME many years ago. THE TWO PEBBLES!

When “outside the box” thinking is successfully utilized, it has the capacity to produce brilliant and often game-changing results. Probably the most impactful effect of outside of the box thinking is that it will keep you on your toes, it allows you to be more flexible and adaptable. 

Through training your mind to be open to the possibility or new ideas and/or solutions, you’ll be better able to handle the often crazy, complex rollercoaster ride that we call life. Don’t for a second doubt the interconnectedness of people, resources, and information. The inability to make connections and draw parallels is what creates the challenges and obstacles that call for out of the box thinking. 

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