The Value of Thinking Outside of the Box

Recently, I have been treating many teens and young adults within my therapy practice. I had prepped a mental health series for our local high school ( which, of course, has been cancelled due to recent events). But one of the concepts which I wanted to emphasize was the growing need for young people who can think critically as well as “outside of the box.”
Yesterday, I was listening to a podcast involving a few doctors who are actively treating coronavirus in their hospitals. One of the doctors is an Intensivist- specializing in ICU patients. He is having incredible success with how he is treating his patients who have coronavirus. One of the reasons for this: thinking outside of the box. He has been able to treat this virus almost like Muhammed Ali treated his opponents- bobbing and weaving. Utilizing medications which might seem counterintuitive but, due to his ability to think critically and creatively, WORK! He, and now many other doctors, have most likely prevented many, many deaths. He noted that many physicians have been hesitant to move in this same direction. Why? Because medicine has become more about following protocols and minimizing risk. With the environment most doctors find themselves in, this makes sense. The art of medicine has been superseded by what is perceived as “safe”.
While so many of our kids and young adults have been striving, stressing, and struggling to increase their GPAs, SATs, and extra curriculars, is it possible that they ( and us as parents) have been missing the boat? In following this recipe and just adding water, are we keeping them “safe” , but maybe never giving them the space to add their own unique way of seeing the world. And thus, help the world exponentially?
As we move into a new age, we will need more and more young people who can think in an original and creative way, while also critically analyzing situations. This requires people to think for themselves. Many times this requires failure. And it requires that our young people figure out who they are, outside of us and our influence. We just have to brave enough to let them do it.