One of the best feelings in the world is being able to come up with innovative ideas, and new ways to solve problems.
One thing I know is that many people who I’ve worked with over the years do not consider themselves to be creative. And without creativity, we cannot truly be innovative.
The truth is we are all creative human beings.
What we want to do is to break out of the habit of using logic and control to solve problems and this way of thinking that we have become accustomed to.
We must learn to exercise the right side of our brain and engage in abstract thinking to generate innovative ideas, new ways of doing things, and find unique solutions to problems.
Once we do, we will experience a plethora of creative ideas and insights to solve problems, improve processes, develop new ways of doing things, and create new or improved products or services.
Exercise your abstract thinking muscles! Learning how to tap into your ability to think abstractly may be the key to help you find the solution that you have been looking for.
What Is Abstract Thinking?
Abstract thinking is the ability to think about things that are not actually present. People who think abstractly look at the broader significance of ideas and information, rather than the concrete details.
Perhaps the easiest way to explain abstract thinking is to compare it with its opposite: concrete reasoning.
Concrete thinkers are more comfortable with what they can see, and what exists right now. They like things that are clear, tangible, and that they can take a hold of in their hands.
Concrete thinkers like to follow instructions and have detailed plans. They dislike anything that is fuzzy or ambiguous.
Abstract thinking is thinking outside the box.
You are already an abstract thinker if:
You think about how everything relates to the bigger picture.
You don’t just ask how — you ask why.
You look for deeper meanings and underlying patterns in things.
You seek to understand how everything relates to everything else.
6 Everyday Exercises to Build Your Abstract Thinking Ability
Here are six thinking exercises to stretch your abstract thinking muscles and create a more innovative mindset.
Reframe the Problem in a New Way
One of the simplest ways to use abstract thinking to solve a problem is to reframe the question you’re trying to answer.
For example, if you’re stuck working on a project because the question you’re asking yourself is simply, “How do I make this process operate more smoothly and efficiently?”
To get unstuck, ask yourself questions that approach the problem from different directions, such as:
“Why does this process need to work this way?”
“Can I make this process simpler?”
“Who will use this process?”
“What does the finished process need to do?”
By asking a different series of questions about the bigger picture of the project, you might stumble upon a solution that you wouldn’t have seen with a narrower view.
Keep Asking Why
There are different levels of abstract thinking, and one way to move to higher levels of abstraction is to keep asking “Why?”
Why does this product matter to the user?
Why does this product have this feature?
Why does it need to work this way?
Why will the person using this product need this feature?
Keep asking why, and you’ll again be able to see the bigger picture surrounding the problem, rather than just the problem itself.
Use Figurative Language
The ability to write similes, metaphors, analogies can stimulate abstract thinking. Think of something concrete and relate it to something abstract: “The assignment was a breeze.” “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day,” by William Shakespeare, are examples.
Other ways to build your ability to use metaphor and analogy is to read and write poetry.
Visiting a modern art gallery is an excellent way for you to develop a more symbolic way of thinking, too.
Improvise
If there’s an improvisational theater group in your area, consider taking a workshop that allows you to explore this open-ended form of performance play.
Solve Puzzles, Create Arts & Crafts
3D, visual, word puzzles, and optical illusions will train you to see things in multiple ways and think of alternatives beyond those that occur to you immediately.
Enhance your abstract thinking abilities by doing arts and crafts projects where you have to think about how to create something. Start with a simple, small project that you will enjoy doing: a hallmark of abstract thinking.
Sleep on It
Whether you just take a quick afternoon snooze or a full night’s rest, research shows that sleep can disrupt your thinking when working on a difficult problem, allowing you to re-approach the problem with fresh thoughts and reach a solution faster.
Enjoy the practice of building your abstract and innovative thinking skills! The benefits are you will have some fun, and you will come up with new and unique ideas to create new things, capitalize on opportunities, or solve problems.