Let your Tortoise Brain come out to play!

Ever wondered where Creativity comes from and how to get more of it?

Creativity is not a talent or an ability we have or don’t have, it is however a special mode of thinking. This I learned today from watching a brilliant presentation by John Cleese. Within little over 30 minutes he demystified creativity in a way that makes this precious quality accessible to us all.

He explained that we can function in two very different modes of thinking. The closed mode and the open mode. It very much depends on which of those two modes of thinking our brain operates whether new ideas flow freely or not.

In the closed mode creativity is simply inaccessible to us. Sadly most of us spend a lot of our time in closed mode. We are in this state when we try to get things done. We think fast and decisively, we feel active, maybe slightly anxious or tense, the adrenaline is flowing. There is purpose to what we do, we want to feel in control, maybe we feel impatient. This is not a state where we are receptive to humour. It is also a state where we can easily feel overwhelmed and stressed. Tunnel vision can be a sign of this thinking state.

The open brain function shows very different qualities. Here we are playful and relaxed, expansive and contemplative. We are curious and open to explore, in a sense very childlike. We laugh and have fun, we can see the big picture. If you want to generate new ideas, this is the place to be. Here our natural creativity can emerge from the unconscious mind.

John Cleese further explains that there are 5 factors that help us to access the open thinking mode for creativity:

1)   Space – Create a quiet oasis, a tortoise enclosure for your slow thinking brain, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Make sure there aren’t going to be any interruptions. Switch off the phone, close down the internet, find that quiet place.

2)   Time – Set a clear beginning and end time, 90 minutes works well.

3)   Sit with your problem – Give yourself time to ponder the problem, sit with it calmly, explore, play with it.

4)   Be confident in your playfulness – Accept anything that comes up, no judgement. Anything goes, there are no wrong answers at this stage.

5)   Humour – The fastest way to access the open mode. Allow yourself to giggle and have fun.

Will you get that aha moment within the 90 minutes? Maybe, maybe not. It might come later, unexpectedly. John Cleese says, provided you ponder your problem long enough, the idea will come up as a gift from the unconscious. The most creative people are often those who give themselves maximum pondering time. Don’t run with the first idea that comes up. There is more gold to be found, wait!

The challenge is this: when we sit down for our pondering time, our brains can trip us up. The brain gets hyperactive with all the things we have to do. Just wait, the brain will calm down eventually. Of course, the more you practice this, the easier it gets.

If you want to watch John’s full presentation, here’s the link.

If it works for John Cleese, it will work for you. The world is waiting for your creative contribution!

When will you let your tortoise brain out to play?