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Giving your imagination room to move
As a writer, I have found that at times the pressures of day to day living take on a life of their own and the head space for creativity becomes so overcrowded with junk that there is simply no room for an original thought. I’m sure I am not alone in this and so if this is you too, don’t despair. Here is a simple technique which can be used to clear the mind even on the most stressful of days. And not only is this practice simple, it only takes few minutes to do.
So, here it is:
Step One, grab a pen and paper and find a place to sit and write. You don’t have to be in a quiet place, anywhere is fine as long as you won’t be interrupted. I often find a good time for this is when I’m riding the bus to work, or when I’m waiting for the kids to get out of school.
Step Two, focus your attention on your thoughts. Notice how busy the mind is with its incessant chatter. Notice those nagging thoughts which hum away in the background reminding you about the unpaid bills, assignments due, the day’s appointments, the list of jobs on your plate and so on. Just be aware of this chatter, don’t get sucked into it and start ‘thinking’ about it.
Step Three, give your mind your full attention for the next five minutes. In this time don’t interact with your thoughts simply become the observer of them and write down everything that comes into your head as a continuous stream of words onto your paper.
Don’t think about what you are writing, don’t filter or judge it, just write. After a few minutes you will notice how the chatter slows down and eventually goes quiet. Suddenly you will be aware of free space within your mind.
The final step, is to seize the moment, the mind is bored with itself and therefore open to allowing all those original and imaginative thoughts to flow in. Even if you don’t have time right now to be creative you will have drained your mind of its clutter and you’ll find during the day you will feel more inspired.
Go on, give it a try, give your mind some room to move!
This technique definitely works. I keep a small notepad and pen within striking distance at all times and have One Note permanently open on my laptop. The strangest ideas come out of the universe at the most unexpected times and I feel my role is to simply capture them before they pass me by.