Finding a Natural Flow
Finding a Natural Flow
Part of the Creative Writing Process Series
Photo by Aleksandr Neplokhov from Pexels
In our previous article, we learned by doing something different, our brain could access a different region as we relaxed, offering us a way to solve our problem. Often, we perceive creativity as something we need to access. The research shows this is not the case! Let’s look at an example from space.
Taking a shower offered NASA a solution with the Hubble telescope. R. Keith Sawyer, author of Explaining Creativity: The Science of Human Innovation told this story in a Time Magazine interview:
“In 1990 a team of NASA scientists was trying to fix the distorted lenses in the Hubble telescope, which was already in orbit. An expert in optics suggested that tiny inversely distorted mirrors could correct the images, but nobody could figure out how to fit them into the hard-to-reach space inside. Then engineer Jim Crocker, taking a shower in a German hotel, noticed the European-style showerhead mounted on adjustable rods. He realized the Hubble's little mirrors could be extended into the telescope by mounting them on similar folding arms. And this flash was the key to fixing the problem.” ~R. Keith Sawyer
There was no time to train the scientists in creativity that was necessary for an innovative approach to solve the problem. When the engineer relaxed by doing something mundane, a creative process occurred in the shower!
We have hope when we realize this is a lifestyle decision to make to get unblocked. There is no need for formal training, unless you want to learn the technical aspect of writing. In regards to creativity this is accessible for all freely!