الوضع الليلي
0
How to Stimulate Creative Thinking via Comparisons
5:29:42 2024-08-26 1492

You may recall lessons in elementary school in which you were asked to note the differences between two items. For example, what is the difference between a horse and a car? Or, which one of the following doesn’t belong: triangle/square/surface/oval? A lot of our early education was focused on the differences between certain facts. There’s nothing wrong with that, except that when we look for differences, the focus is typically on logical thinking. On the other hand, when we look for similarities, the focus shifts to creative thinking.

Here's an example: What are the similarities between a brick and a rubber band? At first glance, that seems to be an impossible task. “There’s nothing similar between those two items,” you might exclaim. But, dig a little deeper and you will begin to see possibilities. Here are a few similarities for your consideration:

  • Both are made from organic materials.
  • Both have right angles.
  • Both can be used to hold things down.
  • Both are inexpensive.
  • Both can be obtained in a hardware store.
  • Both need the letter “b” to make sense.
  • Both come in a variety of colors.

By looking for connections between two very dissimilar objects, you are exercising your creative potential. Instead of looking for the obvious (as you were asked to do in school), with this re-framing you are looking for the less obvious, the less certain, and the less recognizable. This is creativity at its finest.

Try some of the following exercises. What are three similarities between:

  1. An apple and a bulldozer.
  2. A slipper and a pencil.
  3. A window pane and a shovel.
  4. An oak tree and a fan.
  5. A computer keyboard and a rice patty.
  6. A driveway and a lighthouse.
  7. A piece of coal and an email.
  8. A stapler and a motorcycle.
  9. A billboard and a diamond ring.
  10. A fire hydrant and grilled cheese sandwich.

 

Reality Of Islam

A Mathematical Approach to the Quran

10:52:33   2024-02-16  

mediation

2:36:46   2023-06-04  

what Allah hates the most

5:1:47   2023-06-01  

allahs fort

11:41:7   2023-05-30  

striving for success

2:35:47   2023-06-04  

Imam Ali Describes the Holy Quran

5:0:38   2023-06-01  

livelihood

11:40:13   2023-05-30  

silence about wisdom

3:36:19   2023-05-29  

MOST VIEWS

Importance of Media

9:3:43   2018-11-05

Illuminations

overcoming challenges

5:57:34   2023-03-18

pure nature

7:34:7   2023-02-28

the effect of words

5:58:12   2021-12-18

anti racism

9:30:2   2021-11-12

remember who supported you

2:2:13   2022-10-08

allah timing

6:14:3   2023-01-18



IMmORTAL Words
LATEST What is Hyperactivity? Interpretation of Sura Maryam - Verses 85-86 Success, a Human Right ADHD Is not Just a Deficit: New Study Reveals Powerful Psychological Strengths Scientists Develop New Fish-Inspired Filter That Removes Over 99% of Microplastics Five Great Forests That Decide the Fate of Migratory Birds Going to the Audiologist Interpretation of Sura Maryam - Verses 83-84 Depending on Misleading Hopes Short Videos Could Have an Insidious Effect on the Brains of Children Quantum Computing Breakthrough Shrinks Key Device to 100x Smaller Than a Human Hair Cleaner Ship Fuel Is Quietly Changing Clouds Over the Atlantic