LATERAL THINKING–Redesigning Cows, Tables, or Apples
The left and right sides of the brain have been said to control different kinds of thought tasks. The left side is said to deal with analysis, rules, and logic, while the right side is said to accomplish intuitive and creative thinking. These functions of the brain are relatively automatic, but there are ways to purposefully use your mind to create new ideas.
Individual minds (and societies) are most comfortable working within established, coded patterns: “red means stop”, “green means go” are examples. We are even pretty comfortable combining patterns we have become accustomed to: red used for a danger sign meaning “stop” and read this. Minds and societies are less comfortable with the invention of new ideas (before they have been recognized and coded). And we are quite unhappy with the change of a recognized pattern in a way that gives it new meaning. For example, there would be a lot of resistance to changing the color of stop signs from red to pink, and even more uproar if red was re-assigned to mean “go.” Coded patterns are useful and practical; they help us get through a myriad of daily experiences without the need to re-learn repetitive tasks. But these same patterns are also limiting and restricting when we want to be creative. Breaking out of old habits, beliefs, and patterns to obtain new perspectives, insights, and realities is what creativity is all about.
In order to use the mind creatively and inventively it is sometimes necessary to do the opposite of logical thinking. Logical thinking is a process of following accepted and justifiable steps to reach a goal or conclusion. The logical way to get to the other side of a door is to walk towards it, grasp the knob, turn the knob, pull or push the door open, and step across the threshold. In inventive thinking you may have to go against logic at some point. A lateral way to get to the other side of a door is to jump over it or walk around it. Although it is not logical or easily justified to say there may be no wall surrounding the door, these solutions are creative ways to approach the named goal, and would make a much more interesting story than would the logical approach!
Lateral thinking requires a writer to be independent of old patterns, to assume the rights and responsibilities of re-creating objects, situations, characters, or settings.
A good exercise to help you learn what it feels like to use your inventive mind is to re-create a table, a cow, OR an apple. Choose only one. Pretend you have the ultimate say in this new creation except that each item must continue to serve the same purpose it currently does: to have things set upon it, to produce milk, to be eaten.
Please send 250 words about your redesign of a cow, an apple, or a table to me at ariele@comcast.net. It could get published!
Ariele Huff leads writing groups at the Greenwood and Edmonds Senior Centers and teaches writing classes through Everett and Cascadia Community Colleges. She is a third generation Seattleite.
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