How do I come up with my ideas? It’s a difficult question to answer. Sometimes they come gradually, and I seem to take part in their formation. Other times the music, images, words, or ideas just pop right in there, already fully formed. Perhaps an easier question to answer would be “When do you come up with your ideas?” There do seem to be certain points during the daily routine that the number of ideas tends to increase. Below are three of the main moments. As you’ll see, they aren’t exactly the times most conducive to remembering something, and the greatest tragedy is all of those lost thoughts that could have been masterpieces but will never see the light of day.
1. On the Road
Whether driving a car or a motorbike, something about navigating the roads always seems to get the ideas flowing. Sometimes it’s out on the open highway. Sometimes it’s a crowded urban commute. The body often goes on autopilot when maneuvering a vehicle, and the mind is allowed access to the subconscious, harnessing the infinite spring of energy from which we are created. The trick is to recognize and remember when a great idea occurs.
Sometimes I have to repeat the words or tune over and over like a mantra, so that by the time I get to my destination I can still remember it and somehow record it. On longer trips it may be necessary to pull over in order to write down or record the idea. The best option is to have an audio or video recorder always running when on the road, so that no idea can slip away.
2. In the Bathroom
Whether it’s showering, shaving, brushing your teeth, or doing something else, the bathroom is a mystical place that can really jumpstart the creative process. Some say it’s the reflective properties of the mirror. Others say it’s the cleansing powers of water. But the inspirational potential of the restroom is a well documented phenomenon seen throughout history, from Archimedes to Emmett Brown. Even an entire religion, The Church of the Subgenius, has recognized the use of the toilet as a form of meditation.
3. On the Brink of Sleep
It’s that moment when moments themselves begin to cease to exist. The borderland between reality and dream. When the mind turns inward and the train of thought starts slipping sideways until it’s headed towards the land of symbols. This is the hardest moment to capture and bring back, because it can be hard to dip your hand in the sand of this land without getting sucked in. If you do manage to hold onto the strange revelations and return to the conscious world, the urge is strong to allow sleep to overcome you again. But if you can resist the temptation to return to sweet slumber, and if you can somehow document it, then this can be one of the deepest and most rewarding moments of inspiration. Best to sleep next to a notebook and voice recorder.
In which situations do you feel the best ideas come to you? Let me know in the comments below!
interopia 