of associative thinking, exploring linkages, and fusing distinct or remote ideas. A creative thinker, it is said, may not evolve new ideas but evolve new combination of ideas. It is the chain of thoughts and cross-fertilisation of ideas that may bring out something new. The idea of the ‘rocking chair’ has come from the combination of ‘chair’ and ‘see- saw’.
Practice making unusual and unexpected associations using analogies. Sometimes finding original ideas/solutions requires a dramatic shift of focus which can be facilitated by asking oneself : what is the opposite of the commonplace or usual solution to the problem? Allow conflicting thoughts to co-exist. Looking for solutions opposite to the obvious may lead to original solutions.
Engage yourself more frequently in activities which require use of imagination and original thinking rather than routine work according to your interest and hobbies. It may be decorating the house, improvising or redesigning of old objects, making use of waste products in multiple ways, completing incomplete ideas in unique ways, giving new twist to stories or poems, developing riddles, puzzles, solving mysteries and so on. Never accept the first idea or solution. Many ideas die because we reject them thinking that the idea might be a silly idea.
You have to first generate a number of possible ideas or solutions, then select the best from among them. Get a feedback on the solutions you decide on from others who are less personally involved in the task. Try to think of what solutions someone else may offer for your problems. Give your ideas the chance to incubate.
Allowing time for incubation between production of ideas and the stage of evaluation of ideas, may bring in the ‘Aha!’ experience. Sometimes ideas cluster like branches of a tree. It is useful to diagram your thinking so that you can follow each possible branch to its completion. Resist the temptation for immediate reward and success and cope with the frustration and failure.
Encourage self- evaluation. Develop independent thinking in making judgments, figuring out things without any help or resources. Visualise causes and consequences and think ahead, predicting things