If interesting problems could be solved using existing approaches, they wouldn’t be problems.
Seth Godin
I heard this in an interview Seth Godin gave for the launch of the 5th Season of Design Better’s podcast.
This comes as I had a discussion with a friend earlier today about trying to train young designers to become better critical thinkers. Thinking is difficult. It’s hard to think outside of the norm. We’re taught conformity our entire lives, and to develop critical thinking, requires a lot of practice, and guts. Guts to step outside of comfort zones and present ideas that may seem ridiculous. But at the same time, they may solve the problem.
Writing a journal/blog can start this process. By putting down your thoughts, you become used to verbalising your thoughts, pushing through your comfort zone, and allowing interrogation of your thoughts.
So try it…. start writing. Flex those intellectual muscles and get uncomfortable. Soon, after practice, you’ll get comfortable with discomfort.