Thinking outside the box

The brain is like a hot piece of steel waiting to get hammered. :D

Seriously though, the brain is malleable like a piece of hot steel or clay, with an infinite number of possible configurations. When we change the configuration, or wiring, we change our perception of reality and can see it from a new perspective. However, once we stop trying new ways of thinking and learning new ways to use our brains, it start to become stiff, hard and set in it’s ways. Then, it eventually begins to deteriorate and break down. It requires effort and energy to keep the brain malleable and keep learning new things,… like keeping a piece of steel hot.

Brain plasticity:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_plasticity

Lateral thinking puzzles:
http://www.increasebrainpower.com/lateralthinkingpuzzles.html

“The brain is my second favorite organ.” Woody Allen
 
Sam Salvati said:
There is no need to think outside of the box when there is no box in the first place.
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Then, you must know everything...

Sam is god! LOL :D

Just kidding Sam...

No, there is no box in the physical sense. It’s just our imagined perceptual limitations... or something like that. We don't know what our full potential really is... and never will, as long as we keep thinking outside the box.

It's the relentless pushing out of the boundaries.
 
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Tai Goo said:
Then, you must know everything...

Sam is god! LOL :D

Just kidding Sam...

No, there is no box in the physical sense. It’s just our imagined perceptual limitations... or something like that. We don't know what our full potential really is... and never will, as long as we keep thinking outside the box. It's the relentless pushing out of the boundaries.
Click to expand...

"Don Juan" Goo...
You have shifted your assemblage point.
 
cdent said:
So, outside of the box applies primarily to appearance. If it references back to the science thoughts, I'd still think there're some things that are too important to drift too far out of the box.
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There are numerous historical examples of scientists being shunned by the science community for theories that didn't sit well with current thought. After time they slowly gained acceptance and became the accepted current thought. If at this time someone attempted to put forth any theories disputing global warming being human caused they would suffer the ire of the scientific community. It should be okay to view facts from different angles. If science was always right our scientific beliefs would look vastly different today, as many wrong beliefs would have remained the norm.

As far as "the box", many people accept as fact everything they have been told by persons of authority. I have worked with/for people that were burdeoned with what I call the "always rules". "Always do this when doing that." When questioned they don't know why. I want to know why or else I can't accept it as fact.

More than the issue of breaking out it is more an issue of growth. If you are interested in something study it, examine it, question current thought on it, reach your own conclusions. Enjoy it in your own way. Keep reading and expanding your horizons.

Maybe you don't need to break the box, as much as to get of of the rut. Even in daily routine. Take a different route to familiar places. Think like a tourist.

Tai, I never thought you had a problem of thinking outside the box, but I guess you had developed your own but different one. I would consider it a rut. I guess we all need to reflect and to look at ourselves and our thoughts on occasion. Good luck on your journey.:thumbup:

~Alden:)
 
Maybe if I try to relate this to knifemaking again it would help...

Scratches:
The rule book says, and we are taught, that when sanding and finishing a knife,…

#1. All the scratches have to run in the same direction.
#2. You have to get all the scratches out from the previous grit, before you move down to the next grit.
#3. Polishing means getting rid of the scratches.
#4. Scratches are bad.

One of the ways to get out of this kind of box, is just to think the exact opposite. Most of the time what ever the rule or truth is, there is an exact opposite rule or truth of equal merit.

#1. All the scratches don’t have to run in the same direction.
#2. You don’t have to get all the scratches out from the previous grit, before you move down to the next grit.
#3. Polishing means scratching.
#4. Scratches are good!

I love scratches! :)
 
You can't be in the box or out of the box until you've been one or the other.

Try the exact opposite of that rule. :)
 
070521_thinker_statue_02.jpg


"Come with me leave yesterday behind
And take a giant step outside your mind"
 
I have not read everything. but i did read some stuff concerning fear. Instead of facing fear straight on why not except it, watch it,and let it go. Fear will be fear-its a natural response for our mind which triggers chemical releases. Fear is not a problem, only how we percieve fear and respond to it can it become an obstacle and keep us from our creative process-marekz
 
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain

Bene Gesserit litany against fear
Dune by Frank Herbert
 
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”

“We, and all others who believe in freedom as deeply as we do, would rather die on our feet than live on our knees.”

“Always do what you are afraid to do.”

“Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds."

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it."

“There is nothing to fear but fear itself."

Franklin D. Roosevelt
 
Any Pete Seeger fans out there?

"Little Boxes"

Little boxes on the hillside
Little boxes made of ticky tacky
Little boxes
Little boxes
Little boxes all the same
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same

And the people in the houses all go to the university
And they all get put in boxes, little boxes all the same
And there's doctors and there's lawyers
And business executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just the same
And they all play on the golf course and drink their martini dry
And they all have pretty children and the children go to school
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university
And they all get put in boxes, and they all come out the same
And the boys go into business and marry and raise a family
And they all get put in boxes, little boxes all the same

There's a green one, and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN3rN59GlWw
 
Tai Goo said:
Oh well,... I've gone this far,... might as well make a complete fool of myself by posting this. :)

"The Invitation"
(Oriah Mountain Dreamer)
http://www.inspirationpeak.com/poetry/theinvitation.html
Click to expand...

Tai-are you living by that creed/poam/chi. Have you practiced to let go of the things you thought you once could not live without. Have you opened yourself up the infinite possibility in evry 1 billionth of a second. meaning have you learned to live in the pure moment. For me, its hard. That would almost mean giving up every aspect of my life. my work ( which is not my calling) my desires-which when i obtain only give me a fleeting joy that quikly evaperates, my home with its mortgage-which forces me to work, my family? so so so on on on. Do you believe you can reach a level of enlightment with a partner-is it a solo trip. Is it when you give up controlling your life--thats when the universe ( God) (or whatever people want to call it) will lead the way and you will be drawn to your true nature as the world aligns itself around you. Its a big step--one that you cant turn back from--when all is lost will one have the courage to face a new day or will one wallow in despair at what they lost and not regonizing what they have gained. Its age old-its real-but for some of us it almost seems impossible. Yes i will achieve it when i retire but yeturdays gone and tommorow never comes. all that can be done is in the present. thats all there ever is/was/will be--the now. and it could be a scary thing-marekz
 
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