The Easiest Way to Find a Creative Idea

Have you ever said, “What I need is a good idea?” If so, you are on the right track and you are in luck!

You’re on the right track because you recognize that ideas clear the path from wherever we are to successful achievement. You can always “get there from here!”

Find the right creative idea and the rest is focus, persistence, follow-through, and attitude. So you are wise enough to look for the right thing. And you are in luck because your mind is fully able to recognize creative ideas wherever it finds them.

So here’s the simplest and most refreshing way to find the idea that makes the creative difference that powers success.

Distract the conscious mind and let your unconscious find the right creative idea. After you discover the idea, simply adapt it to your needs.

So here’s the first suggestion I offer when some asks me to brainstorm a new idea. It’s simple and offers a wonderful break from daily routine.

Do something that contrasts from your customary version of everyday life. Spend some time in areas other than your specialty. Explore a discipline, profession, hobby, or an aspect of life that is far removed from your usual area of interest.

If you are city dweller, get out into the country. If you have your fingers on a keyboard all day, make something by hand. If you are an artistic type, watch some science documentaries. Listen to a different kind of music than you usually do. If you are a twenty-something, watch a few “I Love Lucy” reruns. If you are baby-boomer, watch a little MTV.

And remember, even if this excursion into contrast is not exactly your taste, you are just visiting. All you are doing is getting out of your usual mental and emotional space.

This serves two purposes. It broadens your horizons with new points of view and occupies your conscious mind. This last point is most important.

Your unconscious already knows what you need. You empower it to find the right idea by keeping the conscious mind busy with something new.

These two points set the tone for a successful creative idea treasure hunt. At some point, the right idea will jump out at you. And this will usually happen when you least expect to strike creative gold. And you made it possible when you wisely recognized that what you needed was an idea.

So you got off on the right foot before you even read this article