Do you think "outside the box"?

Hi damned. I think you're over-analysing things. Thinking outside the box simply means not following the norms, standards or the basic rules of doing things. But you are correct in saying that you can't think creatively if you don't know the normal/accepted/usual way of solving a problem. Cheers to you!

"Think outside the box" is a metaphor, it means you have to look at things or situation in more ways than one. It's a way of dealing with the part that is not obvious. "Think inside the box" is not popular though. But I agree that you have to figure out what's obvious first and then view it in a different perspective.

There is no box. The box is a lie. I agree with most of the current thinking: everything that can be done has been, except for a few very new, innovative thoughts people will have. You're far better off thinking creatively inside the box than trying to get out of it. Most of what's inside the box hasn't been looked at properly because everyone's so busy trying to get outside it.

Oh all the time for me as I am always looking at all possibilities and how they can benefit me. I will weigh all of the corners and see if I can add to the box along the way. By this I mean simply always finding new ways on how I can better do certain aspects and or decisions in my life.

Actually the poster who questioned the box had the right idea...first it matters 'what box?' Each of us have our fixed concepts, unchangeable and unchanged. Sometimes these fixed concepts agree with other, sometimes they don't. First one must examine the 'box', over, under, around, inside, outside, up, down, sideways...That is actually the first step to thinking outside the box...accepting that there is more than one view point concerning said box. Solutions often present themselves simply by changing the angle one is observing from. So you are correct in assuming that you need to be able to think inside the box first, simply because if you can't, you won't know where outside is.

I'm very opened minded and like to think I broke outside the box a long time ago with my thinking.I don't think like most people and try to stay out of the dreaded box people try to set up anyway.

Hi idle Well, more important is what is the box about? If it is something where my thinking inside or outside will make a difference (for good) I am one who can and will give that a real try... but not all boxes are the ones where I can be effective

Hah, tell you the truth the whole phrase "think outside the box" has become such a cliche I think it's in the box! I think it's great to try to think from different perspectives, but giving people the advice to think outside the box doesn't seem to really mean much...

Well, the box is imaginary to begin with. I think we all have the ability to think in a wide range. We seem to succumb to what society deems normal and not normal. We become our environment. We also are a product of our time. So, I believe we should always question things and think for ourselves. So, if thinking inside and outside of the so called box is thinking for ourselves, then yes we can.