Inversion

The Stoics believed that by imagining the worst case scenario ahead of time, they could overcome their fears of negative experiences and make better plans to prevent them.

This way of thinking, in which you consider the opposite of what you want, is known as inversion. Instead of asking how to do something, ask how to not do it.

Great thinkers and innovators think forward and backward. They consider the opposite side of things. This way of thinking can reveal compelling opportunities for innovation.

Leaders can ask themselves, “What would someone do each day if they were a terrible manager?” Good leaders would likely avoid those things.

Most people want to get more done in less time. Applying inversion to productivity you could ask, “What if I wanted to decrease my focus? How do I end up distracted?” The answer to that may help one discover interruptions they can eliminate to free up time and energy each day.

Inversion seems counterintuitive. It is not obvious to spend time thinking about the opposite of what you want – and yet it has proven to be a key tool of many great thinkers.

Inversion is an essential skill for leading a logical and rational life. It allows you to step outside your normal patterns of thought and see situations from a different angle. Whatever problem you are facing, always consider the opposite side of things.

Adapted from an article by James Clear, author of Atomic Habits