I think sometimes the more you ponder on something the harder it is to find a solution or idea. For example i have been searching google for the past hour trying to find something i can do with my form during the 20 mins i see them every day that will be of some meaning. i really want to do something that can go in their record of achievement but can find nothing! i often think of great ideas or solutions when i'm doing something completely different e.g. reading a book, walking somewhere, washing up etc. i think if you try and think too hard you can't think. i guess that's what the article is talking about in terms of giving your subconscious some space. in light of this i'm going to stop searching and just hope for inspiration at some point when i'm not expecting it! -Laura
I know for me, some of my most creative thoughts come when I'm just walking down the street listening to my iPod, lost in another world. I find myself thinking all sorts of creative thoughts without even meaning too. Reading thought provoking books definitely is a source of inspiration for me too.
In grade school, I was always getting in trouble for daydreaming. I had a couple of teachers that would not allow me to sit near a window, because they knew I would just stare out of it and get lost. I think I still get lost in my daydreams sometimes. But to tell you the truth, I love daydreaming! It is so relaxing to me.
My best thinking happens in the shower, or walking the dog, or doing dishes, or cooking, long drives. Just about any activity where the sound of the tv or the computer screen isn't in front of me!
I think often we have too much noise in our lives. Throughout history people have had to "get away from it all", "go into nature" for inspiration. How do we make our lives to be more like the times that we find our most inspiration? We need to quiet our minds and hearts more often.
Here are some quotes I keep close that the article reminded me of.
"Quietly now, the dreams are sleeping, now it is time to live. -Montana Wojczuk
And though we seem to be sleeping,
there is an inner wakefulness
that directs the dream,
and that will eventually startle us back
to the truth of who we are.
-Rumi, trans. by Coleman Barks
But real action is in silent moments.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
For the truth it is necessary to dream wide awake.
-Antonio Machado