Sunday morning, I sat alone in my backyard [photo above] for 90 minutes. No books, no cell phone, just my thought life. 68 degrees, a delicious cup of coffee, and at least 4 different species of birds singing.
I framed my mind with a passage of scripture and reflected on my top 3 core values [courage, truth, wit] – and kaboom! I found myself slipping away from feeling burnt out and being pulled toward a happy place.
It was everything I wanted that morning – and I guess what I did [unknowingly] was just think outside the box.
The origins of the phrase “thinking outside the box” are obscure; but it was popularized in part because of a nine-dot puzzle, which John Adair claims to have introduced in 1969. (1)
We’ve all heard this phrase used [and misused] in different ways but it usually calls us to be creative in finding a solution. Mine was worship that no longer moved the heart.
Getting “out of the box” usually means engaging the right side of your brain. This can help break your logical left-brain’s hold on a problem. Visualizing a problem engages other modes of thinking that we don’t normally use, bringing you another creative boost.
Here are some popular ways of thinking outside the box are:
- Draw a picture
- Turn your challenge upside down
- Ask a child for advice
- Study another industry or discipline
- Explore a new religion
This is a fascinating topic that can and should be applied across a spectrum of issues in our lives. So let’s take a deeper dive over the next few newsletters. Your feedback is always welcomed.