Tag Archives: creativity

UN-LIMIT YOURSELF

“If we all did the things we are capable of doing,
we would literally astound ourselves.”
~Thomas Alva Edison~

It is true that most of us can accomplish much more than we think we can. Unfortunately, very few of us test the limits of our capabilities due to unsubstantiated restrictive beliefs. The truth is that there is no grand rule book with published lists of what each of us can or cannot accomplish. Therefore, any limits we perceive are self-created.

For illustration, I would like to present 3 examples that can help you to visualize the concept of mental restriction.

The Chained Elephant

For some, self-limitation is the legacy of a restricted upbringing. In other words, limitations were instilled within them as children and have now become an ingrained way of thinking. It is like the parable of the chained elephant.

As the story goes, an elephant can be conditioned to accept restraint from a very early age. The key is to initiate limits when he is very young by placing a chain around his leg, which is then attached to a stake. As he struggles to free himself, he quickly realizes that he does not have the strength to overcome the chain. Once the elephant becomes an adult, even if the chain is removed and replaced by a mere rope, the elephant will not attempt to escape because it assumes it cannot break free. It is obvious that the elephant could, at anytime, uproot the stake or break away from the rope but it never occurs to the elephant to re-test its adult strength.

Like the captive elephant, humans can become bound by blindly adopted thoughts and beliefs passed on by others, as well as limitations that no longer apply.

Trapped Inside of “The Box”

Another way we limit ourselves is by thinking within limited parameters. We often approach problem-solving using the same thinking that has been “boxed” and labeled as “the way of doing things.” The problem is that we become limited to the ideas that are provided within the box.

Albert Einstein was one of the most innovative thinkers of all time. What made him unique was his unwillingness to be confined by outdated modes of thinking. While his contemporaries continued to use the old Newtonian theory (which confined their perspectives) to answer modern questions, Einstein’s ability to think outside of accepted parameters allowed him to expand his perspective, ultimately leading to a giant leap toward the theory of relativity.

We’ve all heard the saying, “think outside of the box.” When it comes to designing our lives, the box represents a limited perspective. Un-limiting ourselves frees us from the box of conventional thinking. It engages our creativity and ingenuity which allows us to customize unique solutions for our unique problems. Always remember: doing things the way they’ve always been done limits us to the same outcomes that have always occurred.

As Free As a Bird

Now, I would like you to shift your thinking from confinement and limitation. Instead, visualize a bird flying in the sky. Focus on its freedom of movement. Now, draw a mental circle around it, placing the bird in the very center. Next, mark a point on the circle. Now mark another point. Then, another . . . and another. Pretty soon, you will realize that there are infinite points on the circumference of the circle. The circle represents the 360 degrees of options for the direction in which the bird could fly. Even if the bird does not recognize this breadth of possibilities, it doesn’t negate the fact that these possibilities exist.

If you are able to visualize your life in this way, then you will realize that your options are literally limitless, even if you cannot see all the possibilities. Our lives are so dynamic – continuously unfolding – that there really is no reason to believe that you don’t have any options for the way you live your life – or that you only have 2 options . . . or 3.

There is a paradox in the fact that we can accomplish more than we think we can; it is unfortunate, yet fortunate. It is unfortunate because we often limit our own potential (and miss opportunities) due to the beliefs we adopt. However, fortune lies within the possibility of overcoming the limits in our thinking and achieving much more than we ever thought we could. Un-limiting ourselves is about freeing our minds from the unsubstantiated, self-imposed limitations that keep us from venturing beyond what we know (sometimes known as comfort zones) and recognizing that many possibilities exist beyond the ones we can see.

The key thing to understand is that nothing is written in stone regarding the options we have for our lives. Un-limiting ourselves simply means accepting that we CAN do something more or different, which primes our thinking for the next step of HOW.

Which do you recognize in your own thinking – an elephant, box, or bird? How often do you search “outside the box” for life-design solutions?

CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE

Today, we fire our backyard grills and the skies are alight with firework displays to commemorate our national independence. It is certainly a joyous occasion as we take time off and gather with family and friends to celebrate. I am indeed thankful that I’m able to live freely, not only as a nation, but also as an individual. On a personal level I think about what it means to be truly independent; that is, what it means to be an independent thinker.

An independent thinker is someone who evaluates the world through their own eyes, based on their own observations and experiences. Rather than depending on the words of others, an independent thinker will consider the information being presented and determine for themselves if they will accept it as true. In other words, there is a true desire to think for oneself. In contrast, dependent thinkers accept whatever they’ve been taught, accepting it as true without discerning for themselves whether it actually makes sense.

To be an independent thinker you have to trust in your own ability to make judgments, and act according to these judgements even though it may contradict what others think. Freedom comes from knowing that although you may make mistakes, they are your own to make, and you resolve to accept the failure or success that follows. Thus, as an independent thinker you become stronger and more resilient, confident to stand on your own even in the midst of naysayers.

It stands to reason that if we are content to think the same as everyone else, the best we can expect to achieve is what everyone else is already achieving. Therefore, I believe independent thought is essential for progress, as well as personal growth. It is only when you march to the beat of your own drum that you are able to create original ideas. Independent thinking fosters creativity because you don’t think about being bound by convention; it’s as if you are always thinking “outside the box” (because you don’t recognize that a box exists).

Thinking independently takes a lot of courage because it may compel you to “zig” when everyone else is “zagging.” However, the potential reward is great. It can strengthen your spirit, foster a sense of personal freedom and achievement, as well as contribute to your overall happiness — and this is certainly something to celebrate!

Happy Independence Day!

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