Let there be light …and there was light
“I had an idea – a light bulb went off in my head and then…”
The ubiquitous light bulb analogy for the birth of an idea or inspiration is brilliant to me – pun intended. Just like an electric light bulb our brains also function through electricity.
Millions of electrical signals and the synapses make connections of our experiences in our brain. Similarly when you turn on a light switch in your home, millions of electrons flows through the circuit wires causing light to be emitted from the light fixture.
Processing Information
We often think in abstract constructs, while being bombarded with an incredible amount of sensory information.
For example if you are reading this post sitting down, stop reading and notice your body being supported by the chair. Chances are you are not really thinking about the chair and all aspects of sitting as part of your living experience until your awareness focuses on that.
Even though we may not be aware of it, we continue to process information from our experiences.
Creativity comes from making new neural connections and relating concepts in novel ways.
When the light bulb went off in my head I could see things that were there previously invisible. I became enlightened to a new way be being.
Something had become manifest. Out of the darkness, an idea had been born creatively through me.
In our homes we can simply turn on a switch and nearly instantly electricity surges through the light fixture producing light in the process. Unfortunately we have not yet found a way to magically create ideas simply by flicking on a switch. However, the following may shed some light on how to be more creative:
Exercise the idea muscle
Creating something takes work and practice. Like many things in life better practice makes perfect and idea generation is no exception.
James Altucher recommends that as part of your daily practice you come up with 10-ideas each day, keeping track in a journal or pad.
Here is a James’ great post The Ultimate Guide For Becoming an Idea Machine
Sleep on it
Albert Einstein worked on his special theory of relativity for many years. After nearly a decade of pondering it one day he told his friend that he was giving up. That night he dreamed up the solution and was able to finally develop his E=mC2 formula.
Our brain is constantly working and developing new neural pathways that help improve our efficiency. When we sleep this process continues.
Travel
As previously mentioned our brain constantly receives information and then processes in ways to help us encode the experience. When we travel we experience new stimuli thus providing new material for our brain to process.
I also find that time spent in planes is very conducive to idea generation. “Trapped” for several hours at high altitude allows my brain to wander often producing insightful ideas.
Walk
Early in life we learn to walk and afterwards rarely think about all the complex motions involved – our locomotion just seems to occur without any thought at all. Of course our brains are still processing all the instructions, it is just now we are walking while on auto-pilot.
Many people find ideas come to them while they are walking. This may even work when they are doing any repetitive task, like jogging, swimming or bicycling. Your brain gets into a groove performing a task that does not require that much thought. This allows the rest of the brain to make new connections and produce new ideas.
Ask and you shall receive
I have had success through prayer and meditation summoning creativity. I will pray to God for an answer if I am stuck on a problem and can’t find a solution. My prayer is often very simple and direct, not beseeching nor repetitive. I release my request and let God do the rest.
Receive and write it down
Our smart phones allow us access to notes and/or journaling apps that can be great for capturing any ideas that may come to you. Ideas often come to us when we may least expect it. For example, upon first waking up or more commonly when the shower I find that ideas come to me. I have also found that if I do not write them down soon after receiving them, they are gone.
Creativity and love are expressions of God.
With a little faith and practice we all can cultivate our creativity. Please let me know what works for you when generating new ideas.
NAMASTE
