The good news is that this bias can be overcome. Repeated exposure to different views and novel experiences can prime us to question our assumptions and consider alternatives—that is, to see the box holding the tacks as a candleholder. The repeated exposure does something else that’s critical: it creates discomfort—the discomfort that comes from being stuck on a problem. Studies in creativity show that it is an important early stage in the process of people generating an insight, creating those aha moments. It’s a subconscious signal to the brain that a problem exists and a solution must be
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