How do you use associative thinking? How do you train your observation skills? This is the most frequently asked question I encounter in the efficient writing process. When faced with such questions, I was initially quite puzzled about what methods I had used to train myself.
Looking back at my past experiences, I remember when I was in elementary school, my teacher had a lesson where she trained us to find places with sharp angles in a picture. The image I still remember was a kitchen photo, and we had about ten minutes to observe it.
When everyone finally started sharing their answers, some said 4, others said 5, and I found that very strange. I felt quite pleased with myself, thinking, wow, you all said too few! The reason was that I had found 50!!!
You might be curious why others said 5 while I said 50? The reason comes from the observation skills brought about by associative thinking. First, we can analyze the problem we encounter: "How many sharp angles are in the picture?" Then you can define for yourself "what is a sharp angle." For my classmates, sharp angles might mean knives or sharp objects, but for me, sharp angles also include the four corners of the table and the edges of the windows. So the moment I looked at the picture, my first thought was that I saw sharp angles everywhere, which led to the answer of 50 sharp angles and created a gap between me and others.
From this example, you'll discover that observation is actually having a different perspective on things than others. Observation is noticing the subtle details around you, focusing on a target, digging extensively, and giving it meaning.
This might still seem like an isolated case, or perhaps you think it's unlikely. So let me use the anime Detective Conan as an example. I'm actually a Conan fan and have been following Conan for nearly 16 years, so I think Conan is an excellent example of someone who uses observation and associative thinking!
Often when people watch Conan, they wonder: How does Conan see calluses on someone's hand and know their identity? Or how can he see what someone ordered and determine where they're from?
For example, in one episode, Conan sees someone standing on an escalator on the right side, which is different from Tokyo, and the person's behavior is natural, not realizing they're blocking the path. At that moment, he's certain that this person is from Osaka, because Conan knows the conventions are different between Tokyo and Osaka, so he can make this judgment based on that.
This is what we call the application of observation skills. In efficient writing, we consistently emphasize associative thinking and observation skills. The way to train yourself is to first collect a large amount of information and understand the rules of how the world operates. The more you know, the better you can help yourself notice when something is odd or unusual.
Next, combine your personal background and experience to make judgments, evaluate whether the information can be used, and it can become material for your writing. On the other hand, it also enriches your life experience.
By constantly maintaining sensitivity, cultivating your insight and associative thinking, you can immediately grasp material. Through extensive writing practice, train your logical thinking and let your thinking transform flexibly, creating different ideas for your articles and content. Over time, through consistent training, you can create a gap between yourself and others!
