“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience” — Oliver Wendell Holmes
Everybody’s got one. The problem that’s been following you around all week. You know the answer is inside of you, if you could just get to it — Crack open your subconscious, scoop out the solution, and move forward. But the more you think about the problem, the more confused you become. Sometimes you give up and hope it’ll go away (even though it always comes back eventually). And sometimes it swirls and swirls around your head, like a hamster running on a meaningless wheel.
To solve this problem, you can either wait for an “A-Ha” moment, or you can design a moment of insight using a Creative Journal. Let me explain.
Right vs Left
When you’ve got a serious problem, the analytical left side of your brain is running amok, trying to solve the problem with all the logic that’s stored in your memory. You experience a constant playback of individual details and sequential thoughts. A leads to B leads to C. Unfortunately, this demanding Daemon, as I like to call the left brain, keeps you too busy to step back and look for larger patterns and creative solutions.
This is the perfect time to call on your Muse. This elusive creature, otherwise known as the nonlinear, intuitive right brain, is playing poker with all the related details of your problem. And you may already have a Royal Flush. You just have to sit down and look at your cards.
The key is making your Daemon and your Muse work together.
Play Nice
Your Daemon and your Muse hate each other most of the time. Or at least they pretend to. The Daemon loves to live by the rules, and whatever logic defines them. The Muse loves to daydream and play endless games. Each is strong in their own sphere of influence, ie analytical vs creative. But their synergy is the powerful substance that makes all life possible. Invention, Philosophy, and Art.
So, you have to design a way for them to both do what they love. Here’s one.
A Plan For Clarity
Although the goal, a solution to your problem, may be difficult, the steps to get there are simple. It only takes three:
- Schedule the Time
- Prepare the Space
- Ask the Question
Remember, your Daemon loves rules, even open ended ones like this, and your Muse love to play games. A designed moment of insight requires them to work together. So lets take each step one by one.
1. Schedule the Time
When you consciously set aside time to resolve a problem, you tell your subconscious that this issue is important. You prioritize the issue for both your Daemon and your Muse and communicate when they need to show up. I like to set aside 15 to 30 minutes right before bed.
2. Prepare the Space
You need to create a space where your Muse can play, and a tangible record of the ideas the Muse creates. Then, the Daemon can analyze the big picture as well as the merits of each idea and pick the solution that works best. Make sure and pick a Creative Journal that calls to your Muse — whether its a Recycled Wirebound Notebook
3. Ask the Question
This step is crucial and the one that most people forget. You must define the question you really want to ask. Don’t assume the initial problem is actually the one you need to solve. One way to do this is to ask yourself “Why” 3 or 4 times. Then turn the last “Why” into a “How” to clarify the problem and describe your question. As an example from my own life…
- Why haven’t I finished writing my novel, Shattered Souls? — Because I haven’t made the time.
- Why haven’t I made time? — Because I prioritized my other writing tasks above it.
- Why did I prioritize other tasks above it? — Because I’m not happy with my plot lines. I’m not sure how to end it, and incorporate the twist.
Clarified Question: How do I end the “Shattered Souls” plot lines and still incorporate the twist? (It looks like I’ve got to set a date with my Journal tonight)
Aha Moment
Now, simply let the Muse play without judgment. Write every thought, every idea, every inspiration, every emotion, every goal, every intention, and every obstacle that your Muse comes up with. You may even get a phenomenal “A-Ha” during this time. Don’t censor anything. Don’t let the Daemon onto the playing field until the Muse has finished making a complete and total mess of your journal pages.
After 15 to 30 minutes, you stop. Set the journal aside and take a break for a few minutes or even a few days. Then, reread everything your wrote. Hand the whole thing over to your Daemon and let it analytically sort.
You’ll see the Big Picture with more clarity. You’ll find new and innovative solutions. You’ll know how to move forward.
Take a moment to be grateful that your brain has stopped spinning in circles, finally. And reward your innovative mind by reading a book, seeing a movie, going out with friends, or eating chocolate ginger brownies (my personal favorite).
BREAK
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When you have a problem forever swirling in your mind, how do you create insight and find the solution? Share your ideas in the comment section! |
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Is this similar to the 5 “whys” they use in Six Sigma?
I like the idea of left brain/right brain being called Daemon/Muse. But how do you really know if the ideas you are getting are from the Muse?
@Sarah – Yes, this is the same principle of 5 “whys” that is taught in process improvement classes like Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing
@PJ – Initially you have to assume that every idea is from the Muse. The last thing you want to do is let your Daemon start judging the ideas before you’re done brainstorming.