What does the phrase "thinking outside the box" mean to you? by Teresa

What does the phrase "thinking outside the box" mean to you? by Teresa - October 2018 Scholarship Essay

“Think outside the box”, is a phrase that is used often, but I am not sure if people really do understand what it means to think outside the box. I believe that when one truly thinks outside the box, actions will follow to show that there is a new and different way of thinking taking place. A person who is exercising this phrase will begin to stand out. There will be life changes because of new and different choices one will make. I believe thinking outside the box can be done at a group level or a personal level. I feel that thinking outside the box comes with maturity and by maturity I do not necessarily mean age. Maturity comes with experiences that lead to growth. I would like to share about a time when I thought outside the box and it changed my life.
As I grew and matured it felt like I was living my life for other people. I was not living my own truth, until one day I started to think outside the box. I was thinking about cutting off all of my hair. In the three months leading up to my decision I watched plenty of YouTube videos of other girls cutting off all of their hair. Every day for three months I would go back and forth with my inner self, “Am I ready? Or will I still look beautiful?” That one question, “Will I still look beautiful?” stuck out the most to me. Once again, I was wondering what other people would think about me. I was trapped in my own personal box. This thought was holding me back from doing what I personally knew was the best fit for me. Then one Saturday I walked into my parent’s room and grabbed a pair of red scissors. I Walked straight into the bathroom. I closed and locked the door. It was as if I was saying to the world, “You are not allowed to intrude on my decision” Just before I put the scissors to my head I felt a heavy weight begin to lift from my body. With each cut I felt lighter and lighter until finally I knew I was free. I entering a new way of thinking. My actions showed I was thinking outside the box. I had never felt more beautiful. I listened to my own heart and felt that I was finally in charge of my own life. As of that very moment I no longer cared about what any person had to say about me. Not only did it give me a confidence boost, it enabled me to make decisions based on what I knew to be right for me. This decision made me see myself in a new way that I had no choice but to love. This decision also gave me the courage to think outside of the box more often.