The Way Others Think

The world as we see it is exactly that.  The world as WE see it.  It is a unique interpretation based upon how our senses have been stimulated and how our mind has chosen to construct those signals into a model of what is out there.  But this is a hard concept for many to grasp.  Our own internal model of the world is all we have, we have nothing to compare it to and we have been experiencing it our entire lives.  Understanding the models that others have created is a powerful way to seek creative inspiration.  But how do we do it?

Have you ever been in a situation where there is something that is mind numbingly obvious to you and you just can't fathom how someone else could not see it, but they don't?  This is the problem we face.  It is very difficult to appreciate that others see the world and think very differently to what you do.  It is even harder to contemplate what they may be like.

If you could better see the views and ideas that others have,  imagine what it could do for your creative thinking.  The possible inspiration you could draw from it would be immense.

There are various ways to go about expanding your mind to the possibilities of this but I believe one of the best ways is to teach.  When you teach others, and you teach well, you get a glimpse into their thought processes and their models of the world.  The more you teach, the more you become aware and the easier it is for you to appreciate their views.  You'll start to see different ways of thinking, that you never considered before.  The initial reaction of most is to believe they are wrong and need to be changed to your way of thinking (afterall you are the teacher).  This is not always the case however.  Multiple views can be valid.  Theirs may even have interesting advantages if you think about it further.  So remember teaching is primarily about you developing new knowledge and skills in them but it can also be about them enriching your view of the world and the creative ideas that come about from it too.

A vibrant souce of creative thinking comes from pondering how others see the world.  Understanding how they view the problems they face and why they react the way they do.  Realising that your view on the world is only one of many different ways to view the world and that exploring those other views and models will reveal much new opportunity.

What approaches do you find useful for better understanding the ways others see the world?

You're on your way to becoming a Highly Creative Person.