What is Box in "Think outside the box" ?
"Think outside the box" is a well-worn cliché, often heard in meetings and personal lives. But have you ever wondered what this mysterious "box" really is?
The box is our limited, fixed, familiar, and preferred way of thinking or doing things to solve any familiar or unfamiliar issues irrespective of situations.
The word box gives a sense that something is confined within rigid walls and not free to wander outside. Metaphorically box symbolizes of rigid thinking and inhibits creative exploration.
The walls of the box are our strongly liked, preferred ways of doing things, and disapproval of any unorthodox, unfamiliar, or counterintuitive ways. Due to this strong inclinations for familiar,preferred, and avoiding any unorthodox, and counterintuitive ways, our mind have a strong tendency to stay inside the box. In nutshell the box signifies our subjective, convenient, and rigid ways of thinking or doing, irrespective of nature of problems or situations. Finding our strong inclinations in thinking or doing in any situation can help identify box.
Rarely do we proactively go and seek things that contradict our thinking, ideas, or preferred ways of doing things. The mind hardly welcomes any discomfort or friction with existing ways. We hardly ask questions about assumptions in our thinking or even think about our thinking process. This felicitates the construction of the box.
We can also think the box as the walls of our comfortable zone beyond which mind hardly wanders.The mind tries to take the path of least resistance. In this case it is to stay inside the box.
For example, for programmers, the box represents the sole technology or framework they are familiar with. Instead of enhancing knowledge from time to time that can solve problems in an efficient manner, try to solve almost all problems from inside the walls of our knowledge and experience. In a way, the box also represents our finite set of experiences.
In a broader sense, what doesn't fit will be made to fit to align and comfort our thinking. So if something does not align with our view, then we distort the outside view and make it fit for our thinking, our conveniences, and our ways instead of adapting ourselves.
The mind, mostly dominated by greedy algorithm, always tries to seek instant gratification rather than long term gratification.
All of these ways construct a box in the mind, and our thinking confines within box.
Almost all of us have this box, whether we realize it or not. It is a subjective construct that can vary from person to person. Each individual has their own "box" which is shaped by their personal experiences, strong opinions, beliefs, and finite subjective experiences. Over time we are caught up inside the box.
Does that really mean we can not think outside the box? No, the best thing is that acknowledging our limitations actually sets us free. So it is important to be aware of the existence of our own "box" and to actively work to expand our thinking beyond it .
Here are some tips to think outside the box :
Try to learn something outside of comfort zone. Try hands on different skills along with core competencies. Venture beyond the boundaries of comfort zone sometimes and try interacting with people outside of expertise.
Broaden perspectives as much as possible. Reading can be helpful.Find your own edge here. Look at things from multiple perspectives.
Broaden your experiences .
Do questions about things.
Do embrace uncertainty, calculated risks sometimes and break free from the confines of the box.
Challenge the Status Quo. Sometimes, we have deep irrational inclinations for clinging to the status quo. Any deviation from the status quo is considered a risk, danger, or a future potential loss.
Consider opposing views as well that challenge our thinking, or our preferred way of doing things. Try to become aware of the full spectrum of arguments or choices before making up decisions.
Think about the range of possible outcomes—not always certainties.
Explore new possibilities sometimes outside comfortable zone, even if they're unknown or unfamiliar.
Thinking outside the box is essential for improving problem-solving, creativity, and in other areas.
“No problem can be solved from the same level of thinking that created it." - Einstein
It is basically the nail and hammer syndrome, where a person with a hammer sees every problem as a nail. This is a representation of inside-the-box thinking. It represents our tendency to approach every problem with the same tool or mindset that has worked in the past. it represents sort of rigidity in thinking. We should embrace versatility over rigidity for thinking outside the box.
The world today is constantly changing and dynamic. Things are not static for long periods; instead, they keep evolving and improving with time. Technologies are being invented or maturing with time. As a result, we face uncertainties, and a certain fixed way of doing things may not be helpful. It is like using old tools to solve new age problems, which can be insufficient sometimes.
Uncover the box and allow mind to embrace change, innovate, and think out side of box in a true sense.