by Paul Njuguna

This is yet another guest post from a very good friend of mine. Truly one of the best posts on this blog. I found it very useful and inspiring. Hope you too can !
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An open mind is a free mind. A person who closes their mind to new ideas, opportunities and people is blocking valuable potentials in life. It is never easy to 'think outside the box’ nor is it a reflection of one's intelligence, but a closed mind is a sign of a fixed mentality. Eventually, a gateway of chances will pass by and ultimately, opportunities will slip away.

So how do you think outside the box?

It all begins with how we think and consider things. The reality is the majority of people follow conventional conceptions. We have been taught to think in routine ways since the early days of childhood.

There is no better time than now to break this routine. To re-educate yourself and the way you think is almost a ‘lifestyle’ change. Freethinking, alternative perception, the desire to succeed, and an individualist approach to discover things are the first steps to thinking ‘outside the box’.

The way we think is heavily influenced by continuous interaction and inspiration from our daily environmental surroundings. For that reason, the human mentality will wither unless it is constantly stimulated and influenced with fresh thoughts. Learning something new or embracing a new hobby will help keep your mind inspired and more open to original ideas.

As you become more open to new ways of seeing the world and have the willingness to explore, thinking 'outside of the box' will need nurturing and support. Having an idea is one thing, but acting on it is more important. Results are what counts.

So…do you fall among those who say “I can” and “I will try”, or do you fall in the group who says “that’s impossible”? In order to initiate change in your attitude and outlook in life, it requires a lot of faith - in yourself.

When you open your mind, you give your imagination the freedom to act for you. Leave space for learning. Leave room for change.
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Paul Njuguna is a part time blogger who likes to blog on topics related to personality development, self-improvement, personal management, etc... He looks to build a better world through social media. You can visit his awesome blog here - Volunteer For A Cause