Alternative thinking: everything you need to know

Every day of our lives we think, and we do it in multiple ways. There are different types of thinking, and we alternate them depending on the situation and how our mind operates. One of them is alternative thinking.

Thinking involves forming ideas and representations of reality in our mind, as well as relating some ideas to others. Furthermore, if we think through this type of thinking, that is, in an “alternative” way, what we do is generate new points of view regarding a problem or situation and give way to original reaction alternatives.

What else does alternative thinking involve? How can we enhance it? What other type of thinking is it related to? We see it below.

Alternative thinking: what is it?

Alternative thinking is a type of thinking associated with manage thoughts, circumstances, problems, etc., from a non-habitual or common point of view. Furthermore, as a rule this type of perspective is more positive.

It includes managing emotions, feelings and thoughts from another position, moving away from pessimism and towards optimism. It also allows us to address everyday life problems effectively.

Active and innovative search for solutions

This type of thinking has also been defined in other ways; for example, as the “ability to generate the greatest number of solutions, once the problem has been formulated or identified.” So, It involves generating more ideas and, in addition, they are novel.

It is a way of thinking that involves going beyond the first thing that comes to mind when faced with a problem. Therefore, it is associated with imagining possible solutions to our problems or conflicts in our mind, in a more thoughtful way, as a “brainstorming”.

Creativity

Alternative thinking is related to creativity, as it entails imagine all possible solutions to a problem, and that often requires creativity. Furthermore, creativity is often linked to imagination.

Through it, we welcome possible solutions, even if they may seem a bit bizarre at first. It implies not vetoing thoughts or ideas, but letting ourselves be seduced by them, opening the doors to them.

How to encourage alternative thinking?

Would you like to put this type of thinking into practice? We leave you some ideas to get you started:

Brainstorming

A very useful technique to cultivate this type of thinking is brainstorming. Once you have identified the problem, try write on a piece of paper all those solutions that occur to you for him.

They do not have to be 100% “credible” or realistic solutions. Try to let your mind flow, and write down everything that comes to mind. Then you will filter those ideas.

Short and long term solutions

Another idea that can help you encourage alternative thinking is to consider possible solutions to the problem in the short and long term. You can even include the medium term.

Make three columns on a piece of paper and in each of them place: short, medium and long term solutions. Although the problem is short term, Consider what you could do to solve it if it were to drag on..

This little exercise will exercise your mind to make it more flexible. This helps you adapt to new realities if they arise.

View the problem from afar

Another idea that we encourage you to practice to enhance this thought is the following: try to move away from the problem, from the focus. Visualize it from afar, as if it were something foreign to you.

You can try drawing these ideas, writing them… The important thing is that you are able to place the problem outside of yourselfas something that accompanies you, and not as something that is part of you.

From there, it will be easier for you to gain perspective of what happens to you and look for other points of view that are far from the “traditional”. And that is precisely what alternative thinking seeks, moving away from the classic to seek new points of view (normally, more positive).

A similar thought: lateral thinking

Alternative thinking is very similar to another type of thinking: lateral thinking. In fact, these two types of thinking can be used in a complementary way, and are very useful for finding imaginative and original ideas when faced with all types of problems.

In the case of lateral thinking, we are talking about an approach that moves away from logical reasoning to go beyond the superficial or what simply reasoning entails. Through it, we try to reach the solution to a problem in a less direct way. It is a type of thinking that, like alternative thinking, uses imagination and creativity. It also moves away from the “classical” path, in order to try new ways of reaching a solution to the problem.

Alternative thinking promotes well-being

Alternative thinking is not only useful for solving practical problems in our daily lives. It is also to promote our personal well-being, since involves using a more positive point of view when approaching problems.

And through optimism, one of the ingredients of alternative thinking, we can improve our mental health. In addition, this thought also helps us make our mind more flexible, because it seeks to find new points of view different from the classic one.

You might be interested…