You frequently hear the phrase "conventional thinking" seemingly without a lot of thought given to what the phrase suggests.
Conventional thinking refers to unimaginative thinking that conforms to what most people think.
It suggests that unconventional has negative connotations.
However, all incredible new philosophies, inventions, art, discoveries, and breakthroughs are the result of creative and unconventional thinking.
Without unconventional thinking, humans would still live in caves.
What would drive you to give in to conventional thinking? Fear of being different is huge for most people, but think about what that means.
It means that you choose to live your life to conform to the imagined or real opinions of others.
Is this really what you want? What kind of life is that? If you are ready to give up conventional thinking, here are some ideas.
1) Decide that conventional thinking is a kind of brain death and something to be avoided at all costs.
The only real value of conventional thinking is to understand that this will be the "herd" mentality driving most people.
Understanding what drives others has value.
It's also helpful to stay aware of the pull this thinking has on the human animal.
Without staying aware, we can be swept away by this pull--and less likely to make significant contribution.
2) Realize that conventional thinking leads to conventional attitudes and conventional behavior.
It's important to understand when this type of thinking is synonymous with not thinking at all.
Being controlled by mass consciousness is a mistake and should be avoided.
Being aware of mass consciousness and not being under its pull is transformative.
3) Pay attention to who and what attempts to control you with conventionality.
This is primarily how propaganda is used to control the masses.
Who benefits as a result of a non-thinking population? Some likely culprits are politicians, advertisers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, political parties, some corporations, and anyone who desires to manipulate the population to their own ends.
4) How and where can you think and express yourself unconventionally? What are the ways you allow conventionality to control your life? What fears lock you into an ordinary life? What lies underneath your willingness to conform and give up your uniqueness? 5) When you allow yourself to think--not to be bound by the ideas and opinions of others, you will be creative and original.
It's a great idea to be aware of the bounds of conventional thinking but not to be bound by it.
6) There are times when living and thinking outside conventional mores can be dangerous--such as the days of witchcraft, or the Inquisition--so there's an intuition or wisdom that necessarily needs to accompany unconventionality to keep you safe.
Purposely flouting convention and unwisely rebelling without examining potential consequences is plain stupid.
It is smart to maintain enough appreciation of the conventional viewpoint that will allow you not to get skewered by it.
7) How do you deal with conventional thinking among your family members and friends? This can be one of the most challenging areas to deal with conventional thinking.
What if your unusual opinions and beliefs are a source of embarrassment to your intimates and anathema to them? This is a ferocious quandary.
One obvious answer would be to seek out and make new friends.
Family members are not so easy to change.
There may be certain extreme cases where it becomes necessary to limit contact.
For most families, the driving factor is fear of your getting hurt.
Many family members will come around to your way of thinking if you don't cave, you're persistent, and as they see your success.
8) What are some things you can do to actively break free from conventional thinking? Read and explore as much as you can about your areas of interest.
Study.
Associate with creative thinkers.
Be willing to be different and think differently.
Don't accept typical as a way of life.
Be curious--insatiably curious.
The next time you hear the term conventional thinking, reconsider accepting it without examination.
Life is too short to spend it as an unthinking member (sheep) in a herd.
All great contributions have been a result of unconventional, creative, unique thinking.
Don't let your life get bogged down in the mundane, ordinary and normal.
Conventional thinking refers to unimaginative thinking that conforms to what most people think.
It suggests that unconventional has negative connotations.
However, all incredible new philosophies, inventions, art, discoveries, and breakthroughs are the result of creative and unconventional thinking.
Without unconventional thinking, humans would still live in caves.
What would drive you to give in to conventional thinking? Fear of being different is huge for most people, but think about what that means.
It means that you choose to live your life to conform to the imagined or real opinions of others.
Is this really what you want? What kind of life is that? If you are ready to give up conventional thinking, here are some ideas.
1) Decide that conventional thinking is a kind of brain death and something to be avoided at all costs.
The only real value of conventional thinking is to understand that this will be the "herd" mentality driving most people.
Understanding what drives others has value.
It's also helpful to stay aware of the pull this thinking has on the human animal.
Without staying aware, we can be swept away by this pull--and less likely to make significant contribution.
2) Realize that conventional thinking leads to conventional attitudes and conventional behavior.
It's important to understand when this type of thinking is synonymous with not thinking at all.
Being controlled by mass consciousness is a mistake and should be avoided.
Being aware of mass consciousness and not being under its pull is transformative.
3) Pay attention to who and what attempts to control you with conventionality.
This is primarily how propaganda is used to control the masses.
Who benefits as a result of a non-thinking population? Some likely culprits are politicians, advertisers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, political parties, some corporations, and anyone who desires to manipulate the population to their own ends.
4) How and where can you think and express yourself unconventionally? What are the ways you allow conventionality to control your life? What fears lock you into an ordinary life? What lies underneath your willingness to conform and give up your uniqueness? 5) When you allow yourself to think--not to be bound by the ideas and opinions of others, you will be creative and original.
It's a great idea to be aware of the bounds of conventional thinking but not to be bound by it.
6) There are times when living and thinking outside conventional mores can be dangerous--such as the days of witchcraft, or the Inquisition--so there's an intuition or wisdom that necessarily needs to accompany unconventionality to keep you safe.
Purposely flouting convention and unwisely rebelling without examining potential consequences is plain stupid.
It is smart to maintain enough appreciation of the conventional viewpoint that will allow you not to get skewered by it.
7) How do you deal with conventional thinking among your family members and friends? This can be one of the most challenging areas to deal with conventional thinking.
What if your unusual opinions and beliefs are a source of embarrassment to your intimates and anathema to them? This is a ferocious quandary.
One obvious answer would be to seek out and make new friends.
Family members are not so easy to change.
There may be certain extreme cases where it becomes necessary to limit contact.
For most families, the driving factor is fear of your getting hurt.
Many family members will come around to your way of thinking if you don't cave, you're persistent, and as they see your success.
8) What are some things you can do to actively break free from conventional thinking? Read and explore as much as you can about your areas of interest.
Study.
Associate with creative thinkers.
Be willing to be different and think differently.
Don't accept typical as a way of life.
Be curious--insatiably curious.
The next time you hear the term conventional thinking, reconsider accepting it without examination.
Life is too short to spend it as an unthinking member (sheep) in a herd.
All great contributions have been a result of unconventional, creative, unique thinking.
Don't let your life get bogged down in the mundane, ordinary and normal.
Source...