The concept of thinking outside the box has been abused and has led to ideas that are wild, unhealthy with an absence of modesty in the preservation of humanity while expressing creativity.  While it encourages us to break free from conventional thinking, there’s a danger of misinterpretation.

From the man who questions what ought to be, to the man who spills beautiful nonsense in the guise of being unique in creative expression, our society has been manhandled and I can only imagine what the future holds as creativity becomes a toll on everyone’s lip for unrealistic ideologies.

To this end, there is a need to consider the extent to which an idea or action is considered brilliant – a stretch outside the box.

Thinking Outside the Box: Understanding Its True Meaning

Thinking outside the box comes from the pictorial analogy of stretching beyond a confined environment. Instead of thinking within the specific circle which may narrow your ability to spread the wings of your mind to soar, you need to see the possibility of achieving a desired result outside the circumference of a restricted circle- think outside the box.

Imagine a box. The box represents established norms, conventional approaches, and the “way things have always been done.”  Within this box lies a certain comfort zone – familiarity, predictability, and a sense of control.  However, this comfort can also lead to stagnation, hindering innovation and progress.
Thinking outside the box encourages us to step outside this mental construct. It is about challenging assumptions, exploring alternative perspectives, and seeking unconventional solutions.  It is the act of questioning the boundaries of the box, recognising that there might be a bigger world of possibilities beyond its walls.

Thinking Out of Mind, Not Outside the Box

The urge to be “unique” can sometimes metamorphose into a distorted version of creativity. This is where “thinking out of mind” takes hold. It is the pursuit of outlandish ideas at the expense of logic, practicality, and sometimes, even basic decency. It is the man questioning the sanctity of gravity, proposing a flying goat or questioning why women have two breasts.

Thinking out of mind often leads to impractical solutions.

When considering whether or not an idea is thought outside the box, such is measured in its ability to aid the accomplishment of an intended goal. If a team desires to organise the biggest fish festival in the world, it means that any strategy brought before the team must be one that helps the team achieve their result. There must be realistic and logical proof to show the possibility that such an idea leads to the actualisation of the goal of the team. We consider an abstract idea as thinking out of mind.

Wondering how to strike a balance in your thinking and creative conception? Here‘s how!

Deep Understanding of the Problem: Before venturing outside the box, you must have a thorough understanding of the problem at hand. Why does this problem exist? What is your interest in creating a solution? What are the constraints? This grounding, in reality, provides a launchpad for creative exploration.

Divergent and Convergent Thinking:  Effective creative thinking employs both divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking is the process of generating a wide range of ideas, no matter how strange they may seem at first.  This is something I practise. 

At the conception of an idea, I collate the different routes to actualise my idea. Convergent thinking then involves evaluating these ideas and selecting the most promising ones based on feasibility and effectiveness. After collating the varying routes to actualising my idea, I take time to sieve which works best.

Building on Existing Ideas: Is there anything new on earth? Ground-breaking ideas are rarely born in a vacuum.  Thinking outside the box often involves taking existing concepts and re-interpreting them in novel ways.  Standing on the shoulders of giants allows us to see further than ever before.

Final Notes

Think outside the box, not out of your mind. Question the existing narrative, but don’t lose sight of purpose and practicality. I believe you found this piece useful. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment box below.