We’re often advised to see things from a different perspective when opening up to creativity or while building figurative bridges with others. I have a non-strategic and a somewhat delightful example of the usefulness of perspective shifts.
I sometimes play the New York Times Spelling Bee, a puzzle in which one tries to make words from a set of seven unique letters which are set in hexagonal tiles, with one tile at the center surrounded by six tiles touching each side of the central hexagon. The center letter needs to be used at least once for each word. It’s a simple and fun word game with one important feature: players can press a button to shuffle the six outside tiles. I can’t emphasize enough how useful this one feature is in making the game enjoyable and less-taxing. I’ve noticed repeatedly that the press of this button all but guarantees that when the tiles land in their new random spots, they will fire new mental links and words will pop out more easily. Every time I get stuck, I shuffle as a first line of defense and I am offered the gift of a new word. All I have to do is rotate the tiles and I naturally start seeing words that I didn’t before.
Although we don’t have an easeful button to “shuffle the tiles” in real life, we have endless ways to move ourselves if we so desire. We can expose ourselves to new stimuli through information, environments, and activities. We can also see life’s inevitable changes as this shuffle function. However, the key to gaining a new perspective is to engage in active observation and not unconscious motion. We can think like a designer and observe the environment with specific intent. We can dislodge stuck thoughts by engaging in the new stimuli while keeping the core questions we’re considering top of mind. There are countless threads to decipher in any environment and a focused inquiry helps us hone in on the relevant themes. We can think like a designer, or a Spelling Bee player looking for new words.
“Perspectives are like batteries. You can see the positive or the negative, and they’ll keep you charged up, if you replace them often enough.”― Curtis Tyrone Jones
