Stream2

I’ve noticed a commonality between several creative activities. It is most apparent during unguided meditation and writing, but I can also find it while doing software development work.

The conditions under which this common state arrives are like so: there is a block of time during which I must focus, and I would like to be productive during this time. There is no rule dictating exactly what my next move should be in each moment, but I am determined to arrive at a good sequence of productive moments.

It is especially apparent when I am not yet in flow state. I.e. I haven’t found that first domino to knock over that kicks off a whole chain of dominos falling.

The commonality is this: I feel like there is an empty space in my mind from which creative ideas come. I feel like with the right focus and patience I am capable of arriving at creative ideas just by focusing on this space. I call it the mysterious well of creative inspiration.

One problem I’ve been facing recently in my entrepreneurial efforts is the problem of identifying what to work on, on a daily, or more regular (hourly), basis. I sit down after I am done my software development work for the day, and I have a feeling that I want to work on something, but I’m not quite sure what it is. There are essentially two choices available in this situation: the first is to work on one of the many tasks that I have already mapped out for myself, and this is always a good option. The second, if I don’t take to any of my tasks, is to seek out this mysterious well of creative inspiration. To sit calmy in front of my notebook, and write what comes to mind, until I arrive at something that I really want to do. Finding this is like knocking over the first domino in a chain, and I can usually work for an hour or so once I find this, and then maybe I’m back to the mysterious well of creative inspiration, or maybe I just get to one of the tasks that I have to do.

The other place where this state is very apparent is during my unguided meditation practice. Note that I do meditation a bit differently than other descriptions that I’ve come across. My primary effort in meditation is philosophical, i.e. I am trying to learn something during my meditation sessions. Like writing, when I start meditating, I don’t know exactly what I want to learn, I just know there is something that I want to learn. This is where getting into this creative flow state, i.e. focusing on the mysterious well of creative inspiration, is beautifully effective. I have no idea what ideas will pop into my head, and I’m even less directed than during writing where I do have a more specific aim, but I do know that if I get into this creative flow state, something interesting will certainly arise.