I was thinking about a skill I have. I didn’t know I had it until I was repeatedly told by different people over a long period of time. I easily and frequently thought, ‘out-of-the-box.’

First, let’s review a recent article about creative thinking. The key to the article’s message suggested there was sound research to say that in N1 sleep – the first stage of non-REM sleep, dreaming often incorporated recent awake experiences. Sleeping with an unresolved problem could work through options not previously thought possible during awake time.

That got me thinking about my creative problem-solving skills, from what to write about for a Blog post to how to start a renovation project.

I always struggled with the conundrum of out-of-the-box thinking. When I thought this way, I was just in another box, only bigger than the first.

I thought I joined the dots in a way others didn’t see. This became crystal clear to me when I overheard a staff member ask another staff member who had just left a meeting with me, “Have you just had a meeting with Glenn?”

‘Yes, how did you know?’

“You have that deer in the headlights look.”

I knew what she meant. I had joined dots that had not been previously joined, but I overlooked bringing my audience along for that specific trip. The gap in the logic was too big.

How do I often join dots that others overlook?

My experience has been consistent over time. I often engage in mundane tasks, such as washing the dishes, walking downstairs to retrieve an item from the pantry, or crossing the parking lot to the grocery store.

That’s when I see a solution or a different way of thinking, approaching, or saying something that will get me moving forward again. It happens very quickly, and after a few moments of sharpening the edges of the idea, I lock in the answer.

I trust my instincts and follow up with success most of the time.

I still amaze myself. I don’t take ‘ah-ha’ moments for granted, but I do take for granted that I will find a solution.

Please give this a bit of a think. If you read the Blog regularly, you likely have a curious spirit.  How are you creative? How do you get inspired? What is one ‘ah-ha’ moment that stands out for you?

I am curious about your thoughts. Please comment below with your bit of a think.

Photo by Minnie Zhou on Unsplash

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Volunteer Blogger

glenn.walmsley@icloud.com