THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

by Hardy Mpanano

I came across this concept and couldn’t figure out what it meant. At first I thought about popping out of a big box to come up with some brilliant idea, but it definitely sounded weird. Thinking outside the box is a concept that means, according to Dustin wax, “conceptualizing problems differently; and understanding your position in relation to any particular situation in a way you’d never thought of before.”[1] Thinking outside the box is supposed to help us to handle and analyze a problem in a different and original way in order to find a solution that we wouldn’t have found by thinking as we usually do. How are we supposed to do that?

The concept of thinking outside the box is a metaphor. The box represents “constrained and unimaginative thinking”.[2] It pictures the limited and restricted area in which our mind analyzes problems. In fact, we think by considering the different data and knowledge we have accumulated all over the years. If we do not possess enough knowledge to deal with a problem, it becomes impossible to resolve it. Sometimes, the complexity of the knowledge goes beyond our capacity to understand it and then is required a new way to analyze it. Not only to resolve complex problems, but thinking outside the box is also supposed to enhance our creativity by considering approaches which are new to us and give us access to a different perspective of our surrounding. Thus, we can be innovative and broaden our capacity to come up with original ideas.

In order to be able to think outside the box we should be able, first to think differently and recognize that we are actually limited in a way or another since our mind is primarily set to think in one way, which is the one we have been taught. As a matter of fact, we should try leave the comfort of our world and venture in an unknown area supposed to enlarge our conception of the world. This experiment can be scary for most people who would never try to attempt new experiences or who are used to a fixed way to see the world. This lead to the second condition, which is not to be scare to take risks to think differently. Let’s think about it! Most of the people follow a certain pattern of rules they have been taught to apprehend any situation. To be successful and to step aside from the crowd, one should be able to be original and effective in a way no one could have though about. Examples of many successful business entrepreneurs demonstrate the benefit of being original and creative; values generally appreciated in our modern world.

In sum, thinking outside the box means to put ourselves in different physical or intellectual conditions where we can be able to transcend our current condition to consider new possibilities which open our eyes to a new reality.

 

---

[1] WAX, D. ( November, 6th), 11 Ways to Think Outside the Box, Retrieved November 15^th,2012, from http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/11-ways-to-think-outside-the-box.html

[2] The phrase finder. (nd). Think outside the box. Retrieved November 15^th,2012, from http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/think-outside-the-box.html