Let your mind wander to your creative insights

creativity has a mind of its ownAn article I read today on the role of attention for creativity by Daniel Goleman caught my eye. It resonated with me because he was able to put it out there... on how the creative mind works.

wander, space out, focus, it's ok

I have always asserted that it cannot be confined to a box, to a timeframe or to a large conference room filled with eager brainstormers. Creative insight does not just come to most people spontaneously—except for maybe standup comedians. It requires what I call a certain zone, which can be created by immersing myself into all areas of the challenge at hand since I never know which moment or detail will spark my creativity.

Goleman goes on to say,

this wide immersion requires an open awareness, a form of attention that lets the mind wander freely. Mind wandering, which has a bad reputation, is actually a crucial stage in creativity. It lets us come up with those precious new combinations of different elements, the one that will pay off in a creative insight.

I often mention that my creative brain needs a special warm venue, a fireplace, a candle, trees, birds and clouds moving by. In other words, it cannot be confined to an office with flourescent lighting and a conference table with all eyes looking at me. I've called my needs introversion. Although it's a form of that, it's also the act of allowing my mind to wander that leads to its creative gems.

© 2013 R.E.L. Copywriting