Xunzi, the Confucian philosopher most Westerners never encounter, argued in the 3rd century BCE that human nature is not naturally good — it must be actively shaped through ritual and repetition. His concept of *li* — deliberate, structured practice that trains the mind to perceive differently — turns out to anticipate something modern cognitive scientists call 'functional tone': the way habitual actions literally narrow what possibilities you can see. The practical implication for creative work is uncomfortable: if you always begin a problem the same way — brainstorm first, then evaluate, or research first, then design — your opening ritual is quietly pruning the solution space before you've consciously started. Xunzi's prescription wasn't 'be spontaneous' — it was the opposite. Deliberately interrupt the ritual. Change the order. Start with the step you normally do third, and the problem will look genuinely different by the time you reach step one.

What is the first thing you do when a new problem lands on your desk — and when did you last consciously change that opening move?

Drawing from Confucianism (Xunzi) — Xunzi (Xun Kuang)