The creative force that animates human thought depends on the integration of two completely different minds. This is true of every human decision.

The linear mind is the mind of analytical thought. It likes to move from step one to step two to step three, in an orderly and predictable way. This mind understands cause and effect, presents stories in chronological order, and gives lost travelers directions to the nearest gas station.

The non-linear mind is the mind of intuition. It likes to cast a wide net, recognizing new connections and identifying new possibilities. This mind deals in emotional imagery, in flights of fancy, and in playful exploration.

All human thought integrates the two, but the balance between them can shift dramatically between one task and another. "Thinking outside the box" depends on purposefully activating the non-linear mind.

There's no great mystery here. Calling on the non-linear mind is simple once you understand its nature. If the linear mind is a Buick on the streets of suburbia, think of the non-linear mind as a bumper car driven by an eight year old: it's playful, it's unpredictable, and it thrives on chaos.

And like any eight year old, it's relatively simple in its motivations, providing us with several fool-proof ways to engage it in any activity.

1. Play. The non-linear mind gets bored easily. It hates routine, and it hates being serious. If you want to think outside the box, you have to act outside the box. Any "free form" activity will help break the routine and activate the non-linear mind. Random doodling, "stream of consciousness" writing, and free association games are all good ways to free the mind from its traditional linear patterns.

2. Dream. The non-linear mind loves to daydream, and the wilder the better. Focusing on the realities of time and budget constraints will keep that childlike mind in permanent "time-out." Temporarily giving yourself permission to dream big can unlock the kernels of more practical yet highly innovative ideas.

3. Get active. Movement is an easy way to engage the non-linear mind, especially if that movement doesn't require much mental focus. Small motions like tossing a coin, squeezing a "stress ball," or spinning a pen--anything that provides activity while allowing us to keep "half" of our mind on a problem--can stimulate out-of-the-box thinking.

4. Practice the art of mild distraction. Anything that lightens our focus without breaking it entirely can activate the non-linear mind. Even if "most" of our mind has shifted to the new task, returning to the "problem" task at random intervals will stimulate random thinking. Whether you're making coffee, eating lunch, or simply working on something else for a while, distracting the linear mind will make room for the non-linear mind to shine through.

Like this article? Get the Mind Unbound feed... or sign up for the free newsletter to stay up to date on all Mind Unbound news & articles.