Have you ever lost your keys, looked for them in earnest, and couldn’t find them, only to find them later when you weren’t looking for them? Somehow, as soon as you stop looking for them, your brain started piecing together the clues and put them together without you working on it.
It turns out that the creative process can sometimes be like this, too. If you’re stuck on a problem and can’t find the answer, one of the best things you can do is to “look away” for a while. But to look away, you have to really look away, meaning you have to divert enough of your attention to something else while you’re looking away.
But…before you look away, state the problem to yourself as specifically as possible. For instance, don’t say “I’m having trouble writing this blog post” – drill down to where you’re having the trouble. Is it the introduction? Is it piecing together a couple of the ideas? Is it expressing an idea in the context of the post? The problem with the general creative puzzle is that it’s too big to piece together, but if you focus on just one component of it, then some headway can be made on it.
What many of us don’t realize about the creative puzzles we run into is that, very often, there are multiple components to the puzzle. The first component is what I’ll call the cognitive component; this component has to do with just the aspects of the problem that can be solved purely by thinking about the problem. The second component of the problem is the emotional component; this component often doesn’t have to do with the problem itself, but is often what keeps us from being able to see the solution to the problem.
Think about this for a second. How often have you gotten stuck on something and then tried to force yourself to find the answer? Or how many times have you let what’s a momentary mental pause turn into layers of insecurity, self-doubt, frustration, anger, impatience, or depression? At that point, very little of your mental energy is being directed at the actual problem and instead is diverted to the emotional tempest you’re brewing.
The trick here is in knowing yourself well enough to know when it’s just a mental hiccup, in which case you just need to refocus, and when it’s time to step away from the problem before you get overwhelmed by it. In the latter case, the worst thing you can do is try to force yourself to find the answer.
Instead, look away from the problem by exercising, walking around, going to a store, or talking to someone about it. The first three work because physical movement tends to encourage thinking, and the latter works because you’re probably not articulating as much of the negative emotional energy and more of the actual problem when you talk to someone else. The activities themselves, though, have to be immersive enough that the problem itself isn’t what you’re focusing on. It may seem odd, then, that I’m recommending talking to someone about the problem, but rich conversations often require enough concentration that the maintenance of the conversation is what has more of your focus than the content of the conversation.
It’s good practice to have your “looking away” activities identified so that the process becomes more reflexive. For instance, I know that playing my guitar is a sure way to look away from my problem, as are the drums on Rock Band. (Oh, Rock Band, is there a problem you can’t handle?) I can also hit the gym downstairs. You get bonus points if your looking away activities are ones that are good for you anyway.
If you’ve been racking your brain trying to solve that creative problem for the last few hours, or days, or weeks and aren’t making much headway, stop! Try some of the things I’ve mentioned above, and if they don’t work, pick up another project for a while. But, whatever you do, look way from the problem so that you have the chance to solve it.
I forget the specifics of the story. But apparently, Steven Spielberg has ‘found’ the answers to many creative problems…..while driving his car. I always think of that when I get stuck. Sometimes, it takes not looking for the answer to find it.
All the best!
deb
Deb Owens last blog post..crazymakers make you crazy (and keep you out of the zone)
Such good stuff in this post. Sometimes we get so weighed down and entrenched in what the problem is that it’s almost impossible for us to find a solution. I think it’s VERY important to practice “looking away” activities in order to regain your focus.
Our brains, our Universes are so cool, the way things happen for a reason. All we have to do is listen to our guts. I love how solutions come from connections.
Peace.
@vinylart
Daniel Edlens last blog post..Can You Dig It?
Great reminder Charlie. As a conscious creator of my experience (at least a practicing one), I want feeling good to be my #1 focus. If I notice the struggle, taking a break to shift my focus onto something that *is* working or *does* feel good is a great way to break free. After I put my attention on the things I do want to see happen, I can hit it up again from a better-feeling place. Generally speaking though, just shifting my thoughts onto seeing what it is I do want to see happen or feel is the “gap” I need to get free.
Thanks for anchoring this powerful reminder!
Myndes last blog post..Life Log Meets The Law Of Attraction
I go out for long walks, listening to music. Works wonders!
Joely Blacks last blog post..Random miscellany: the problem with experts
I guess one of the reason why eastern physical disciplines are so powerful is because they have the features of the perfect look-away activity: physical activity with a mindful, quasi-meditative mental state. Tai Chi almost always pulls me out of those moments when I seem to get miserably stuck.
Alan Furths last blog post..What does it mean to love our work? Hint: It’s not about success (Part I)
I always like to walk away. I never quit, but sometimes the atmosphere of a different environment, I find, is the best way to give an old project new breath.
Writer Dads last blog post..Does your blog need a makeover?
Some of my best writing has been done while on the stationary bike, trying not to think. Same with showering, waking up from a nap, etc. While you may be doing something else, your subconscious could very well be solving the problem without succumbing to the pressure that was stifling your thoughts before.
David Dittells last blog post..Language Detective: Why Is A Sunday Drive Good, But A Sunday Driver Bad?
Walking does the job for me. Also mindless, rhythmic handwork like knitting or hand quilting. Or just a different environment – I sometimes do very focused thinking in busy coffee shops, especially if I turn my phone off.
Absolutely! I find if I do a list of some of the things I have been creatively stuck on during the day or week before I go to bed, my subconscious works away at it and if I don’t wake up with an epiphany at the very least I have made a useful list to start the day fresh with!
Sometimes my clever little brain has solved the problem without telling me (or maybe I wasn’t listening?) and looking at it fresh allows me to see it too…
Which kind of goes against the whole you get what you focus on theory of life, but resonates with it too since by not focusing on it you remove the pressure and let your neurons and synapses do their thing with the universe without your annoying self directed noisy chatter getting in the way.
Use the force…or what is otherwise known as your subconscious mind…it is much cleverer at remembering reeeelly important stuff and making connections than you are!
Nicky Tillyer (@artrox)s last blog post..Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s Keynote
Some of my better ideas often get triggered by seeing, hearing or reading some random bit of inspiration when I am out and about. While turning away from a problem certainly works, I don’t think it’s necessarily about completely shutting off. Stop actively thinking about it but don’t go blind to what’s around you.
James @ Organize ITs last blog post..Made A Mistake? Deal With It The Productive Way