| Classic thinking games are a great way to tune up | | | | the shape of a couch.More Thinking GamesA lateral |
| your brain. You can use these mind games to help | | | | thinking puzzle you can try right now involves nine |
| you increase your brain power and to get you out of | | | | dots, layed out three by three. Connect them all with |
| your thinking "ruts." Play them enough, and they'll | | | | four straight lines, without lifting the pen or pencil |
| habituate you to using creative problem solving as a | | | | from the paper. When you figure this one out you'll |
| normal part of thinking about things.Thinking Games | | | | appreciate the expression "thinking outside of the |
| For GroupsGroup thinking games are especially good | | | | box."Many lateral-thinking puzzles use a scenario, real |
| for long trips in a car. Have someone look out the | | | | or imagined, with a selection of things you have to |
| window, for example, and randomly choose an | | | | use to accomplish something. Imagine a ping-pong ball |
| object. Everyone in the car then tries to imagine a | | | | in an iron pipe that's set in cement. The pipe sticks up |
| new way to make money with it. Common street | | | | three-feet high, and has almost the same diameter |
| signs become places to advertise, trees are sold with | | | | as the ball. Using only a box of frosted-flakes, and a |
| names, and a truck becomes a traveling grocery | | | | t-shirt, and your body and mind, how many ways can |
| store.Use the "change of perspective" technique as a | | | | you find to get the ball out of the pipe? You could |
| problem-solving game. Just pick any topic, and see | | | | also set this up for real, to know if a proposed |
| who can come up with the most unique new | | | | solution will really work.Many riddles are just mind |
| perspective. Could there be a world where jobs | | | | games or lateral-thinking puzzles. You move laterally in |
| weren't necessary? How would a virus define | | | | your mind, away from your usual line of thought, to |
| morality if it was conscious?One creative thinking | | | | solve a riddle. For example, what did his friends do |
| game uses a technique called "concept combination." | | | | when the canibal was late for dinner? They gave him |
| You simply combine random concepts or things in | | | | the cold shoulder, of course! Keeping your brain in |
| interesting ways, and see who has the best idea. A | | | | shape doesn't have to be a matter of serious study. |
| chair and a microwave? Maybe an easy-chair with a | | | | Why not play some thinking games?Steve Gillman has |
| built-in cooler, microwave and television, or | | | | been studying brainpower and related topics for |
| microwavable "couch potatoes" - a potato snack in | | | | years. |