One of the hallmarks of creative thinking is "lateral thinking" or thinking outside the box. If you've got a problem, it can be tough to solve it with the same mindset that created it. It can also be tough to solve it by using traditional methods, usually brute force, or ignoring the problem.
Here's a quick and simple example. You're driving along, and you notice the oil light goes on. If you're like most people, you'll ignore it. Some common, inside the box solutions would be to put in more oil, or take it to the shop and have your oil changed.
What might be some outside the box solutions? Maybe change the brand of oil to one that lasts longer. Maybe get your engine tuned up so it burns less oil. Maybe start riding a bicycle or taking the bus. Maybe combining all your trips into one trip a week. Like I said, this is a very simple problem. Since most problems are very complex, they aren't easy to solve thinking off the top of your head.
That's why you need to increase your problem solving muscle. Huh? Here's a great exercise that will physically build a lot more neural connections in your brain, so you can think a lot more easily outside the box.
Here's how. When you're at home, or work, or anywhere you can look around and talk out loud, do this exercise. It seems simple, but it's really hard. Look at something, and give it a name other than what it is.
Like may you'll look at a clock and say, "banana." Just keep doing this as many times as you can, in rapid succession. There's only two rules. Rule one is that subsequent real objects can't be the same type of object.
Second rule is that subsequent re-named objects can't be the same type. Meaning you can't look a bunch of different books, and call each one a type of food.
Like I said, this sounds pretty easy, but you won't able to do this for more than a minute before smoke starts coming out of your ears. But if you do this once a day, for a minute or two, pretty soon you'll be coming up with all kinds of wacky solutions to all your problems.
