If you are like me (a.k.a.
human), you have probably spent (wasted) a fair bit of time trying to remember
that elusive task, find that lost something, grasp that fleeting thought or flesh
out that next great creative idea. It is
incredibly frustrating when we block time to do something, we sit down, we
remove distractions and then ... NOTHING.
We are stymied by a lack of creativity or a soggy brain. We find ourselves unable to really get to what
we were thinking about and, ultimately, we often don’t accomplish the task to
the level we had wanted (assuming we’ve remembered it at all).
I have noticed in recent
years that the great ideas and moments of clarity come at unexpected times. It isn’t when I am really focusing the grey
matter that I remember the 25th item for the to-do list. It is when I am distracted. It is also typically when I am doing something
that has a slight physical aspect to it.
Not something challenging or difficult, but rather something that I can
do without thinking. Something
involuntary or brainless.
Here are some examples of
where I have my moments of mental clarity (and I am sure that I am not alone in
this).
- On the edge of sleep (either edge, but often in that time where I am partially awake)
- In the shower
- Walking (alone) to somewhere
- On a long drive
- In a meeting or something like it (ideas generated here are typically unrelated to the meeting content – bit of negative side effect, really)
What is really happening? How can we be most creative (which I have
often associated with my brain) when we are using it so little? The answer is perhaps that when we are really
applying the brain to something, it has the same effect as stirring up the
water in a mud puddle. The more we try
and get the brain going and all cells active and engaged, the more dormant idea
particles and conflicting things swirl up to confound us.
When we are doing something
simple and basic, which requires our bodies to just act, our brains are in fact
free to get crazy and creative. It is
almost as if we see clearer by looking sideways at things.
Consider your peripheral
vision. On the surface, it is pretty
blurry, unclear and unfocused, but if you want to react or catch movement, you
use the peripheral vision, not straight on vision. If we come back to ideas and the brain, by
applying a sort of peripheral mental process, we can open up and tap incredible
creative and mental potential. As we
walk, drive for a long distance, take a shower or just settle into something,
it is almost like our brains shuts off all of the noisy parts (because they
aren’t needed right then), and things really flow.
So, if you really want to get
creative or remember what you want/need to do, distract yourself and disconnect
your brain. You’ll be surprised how
different it is. Oh, but don’t forget to
pack a pencil and paper, or you won’t remember later.
