“Put your head to work!”
An expression you’ve surely heard or used.
But when a problem persists, could doing exactly the opposite be the answer?
Science has now shown that our intelligence is not limited to what’s inside our heads. Our bodies, the spaces around us, and the people we interact with can all act as extensions of our minds.
In The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain, acclaimed author Annie Murphy Paul draws on research by neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and psychologists to challenge what we thought we knew about how the mind works and show us a completely new, practical way to think.
Think with your body. Our emotions and bodily movements can help us concentrate better, understand more deeply, and become more creative.
Think with what’s around you. Our surroundings directly influence us and can lead us to solutions to problems we might not otherwise have considered.
Think through human relationships. The intelligence of the people around us—whether they’re experts, friends, or colleagues—can broaden the way we think and help us arrive at ideas and solutions we might struggle to find on our own.
From artists and scientists to leading educators and leaders, the most creative people have never relied on their heads alone.
Perhaps to think better, you first need to discover where your mind really ends!
