How to think outside the box.
‘Think outside the box’ is a phrase that is often touted as a solution to encourage innovation and meaningful change. Yet, this seems hard to achieve even when millions are spent by corporates on ‘training’ people to think ‘outside the box’. In life situations, people struggle even harder to think outside the box. They are paralyzed with fear when life throws a curveball because they genuinely did not expect life to change, ever. That happens to others, never themselves.
Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. When life decides to change, the only option you have is to accept the change and (you got it!) think outside the box. What does that phrase mean, really? It means understanding the nature of life, embracing change and trusting it enough to go with the flow. It means thinking creatively and being solutions-oriented without catastrophizing.
Getting there can be a tough proposition for anyone who is fearful and has barricaded themselves against change using various tactics to convince themselves of the ‘changelessness’ of life. If you are fearful, a good start is to first become aware that you are in a box. Look around you. Observe life. Is it static in spite of all the efforts you make? How boring would it be if it does stay static? Life gives you many experiences, some of which you may perceive as bad simply because the outcome is different from what you expected.
Now imagine how you might react if you have already accepted that different outcomes are possible and are open to other options that life has to offer. Imagine moving on without catastrophizing or anger or fearing the future. How wonderfully free that would feel instead of constantly depleting your energy by thinking of the past instead of focusing on what you can do now!
Next, focus on climbing out of the box and learning to change the way you think. For this, you will need to look for inspiration outside the box rather than among those who inhabit the box with you. What makes those who live and think different so much more resilient? How can you become one of them instead of being cowed down by life and constantly complaining like the boxed ones?
One quality that stands out among those who have consciously gotten rid of the boxes in their life is that they no longer try to change others. They focus on themselves and on shaping life to serve their needs. This should never be mistaken for selfishness. In fact, they are rather more kind and unselfish than those who have boxed themselves in because they understand that it is not up to you to change their life. They know that it is up to them to make the change they need to and get busy doing just that instead of playing the blame game.
Another quality is that they expect life to change. They’ll invest in their health and ensure they have enough to fall back on in case of an emergency. Beyond that, they focus on acting in the Now in order to realize their dream and get to where they would like to be. If an outcome is different from what they expect, they don’t waste their energy trying to control what they can’t control. Instead, they accept it and move on. And if life brings loss and grief their way, as it does to every human, they have the resilience to handle it with strength and grace.
Above all, they make every effort to own their time because it allows them to fearlessly strive for a variety of life experiences and define success on their own terms. They don’t try to hit all the goal posts because it is expected of them nor do they expect to score points for universal popularity. They focus on a trusted circle and accept the fact that they have no control over how they are perceived by others outside of that. This ability to recognize what they can and cannot control helps them see the big picture and experience life in a more fulfilling way.
They realize that the biggest enemy to living a full life is stagnation and boredom. They make every effort to keep these at bay by constantly coloring outside the lines, whether it is interacting with those who are completely different from them or learning a new skill. Overall, this improves the quality of their life and makes them happier individuals. And who doesn’t want to be happier? Don’t you want to be happier? All you need to do is to start looking for ways to climb out of your box.
It’s easier to think outside the box if you don’t draw one around yourself. – Jason Kravitz.
