To Deepen Your Thinking, You Need More Constraints
Giving your mind free reign is the worst thing you can do for your focus, creativity, and ability to solve problems
Let’s do a quick exercise: Tell me story.
Go on. I want to hear it.
If you’re like most people, you’re probably feeling stuck. “What kind of story?” you ask. “True or fictional? A funny tale or a dramatic cliffhanger? Should I elaborate with great depth or give the 20-second elevator version?” Your mind weaves through all these questions before you even utter your first word.
Now, let me add a restriction: Tell me a story about your childhood.
This narrows the universe of possibilities, but you’re probably still pretty overwhelmed. “My childhood? That’s a long timeframe.”
Okay, I hear you. Here’s another restriction: Tell me a story about your childhood that involves your mother.
Now you’re probably starting to feel a little better. Some ideas might be coming to mind.
Let’s add one final condition: Tell me a childhood story involving your mother where you were angry at her in the moment, but now as an adult, you understand her point of view.
