When we are confronted with a problem, we typically look for a solution by thinking about past problems that we have encountered.
Because a certain solution worked last time, we are confident that it is the best. This is uncreative thinking.
A creative thinker thinks about the problem from many different angles. This gives them a number of possible solutions to choose from, which helps them find a unique elegant solution.
The next time you are confronted with a problem, even a very tiny one, instead of jumping to the first obvious solution, take a step back and see if you can find several alternatives. At first this is going to be difficult to do, but with practice you will be able to come up with many alternative solutions to your daily problems.
Here’s an exercise to help you practice this technique.
Imagine that you are a detective. Try to come up with different possible causes for the following situation:
You pass a man on the street who is wearing two different shoes.
Here’s some alternate solutions I came up with.
1. The man broke his eyeglasses and is unable to see the difference.
2. There was a power outage when the man got dressed for work.
3. The man lost a wager with a co-worker and has to wear the different shoes all day.
4. The man has a bunion on one foot and the ‘other’ shoe is more comfortable.
5. The man’s dog chewed up the mates to both shoes.
Now, it’s your turn. Try to come up with alternate possibilities for the following situation:
You return to your car to see the windshield broken and an apple sitting on the seat.
(Post your alternatives in the comments section.)
Photo by romychamo.
ameya on January 12th, 2007 at 9:42 am
You return to your car to see the windshield broken and an apple sitting on the seat.
You are having an affair with your lady doctor. Your wife finds out and is pissed. Being of a violent disposition, she feels an urge to transfer her wrath on your car, which has always been an object of affection for you. She keeps an apple there to remind you that an apple a day should keep the doctor away.
Andre on January 12th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
1. Some brat decided it would be a good idea to see whether an apple could break a windshield.
2. The apple got bored hanging in the apple tree and decided to go for a ride (it HAD to break the windshield, as the apple is too short to use that thingy people use to break into cars - jack-something??)
3. Considering the apple is not enough to break a windshield, it probably fell from a truck; the box it was in broke the glass and only one apple fell inside the car.
4. The car owner’s girlfriend broke the windshield and left the apple as a sadistic inside joke after she was dumped by the car owner.
5. Someone saw that the windshield was broken, and left the apple to the car owner as a kind gesture.
Joy Langtry on January 15th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
You are a teacher, and a mentally challenged but very enthusiastic student wanted you to have that apple.
danakeith on June 3rd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
yes, if you have hard time dealing with your problem.. just think for alternatives rather than to keep on thinking negative things.
this will work i’m telling you.