Any individual or team can become more creative—and in doing so, generate ideas and breakthroughs that stimulate growth and performance. The key is to focus on perception, which leading neuroscientists, such as Emory University’s Gregory Berns, find is intrinsically linked to creativity in the human brain. But what has perception got to do with 'silent spaces' and innovation?
Berns maintains that it is essential to learn and allow yourself to be open to perceive things differently.
To bombard your brain with things it has never encountered before creates disruption and situations that trigger the brain. Creating a mind that is flexible.
If we think about it, the brain has evolved for efficiency and routinely takes perceptual shortcuts to save energy; perceiving information in the usual way requires little of it. Hence why we need to force our brains to re-categorise information and move beyond our habitual thinking patterns. Otherwise how can we begin to imagine truly innovative ideas?
One way of doing this is to tap into ‘silent spaces’, or the spaces in between thoughts. It’s been said that when you tap into these spaces, something called discontinuity occurs. What we have learned from some of the great minds that have gone before us is that they not only achieved this for themselves, but have shown how others can achieve it often non-verbally through art and music.
So what simple steps can we take to get started?
Attached below are three ways you can trigger your brain today and find your silent space. Give it a go to experience how even slight disruptions to your own habitual patterns can start to change your perception and make room for creativity:
Try some exercise or a form of meditation. If you don't think you have time for meditation, have a read of one of our previous blog posts Mindulness, Efficiency and Activity Based Working...
Go for a wander and spend at least 5 minutes per day on your own for self-reflection. Its important to disconnect from technology from time-to-time, so give yourself the freedom to let go.
Find a new way of doing a daily task. Start with a baby steps by making it specific and practical. For example if you pick up a coffee on your way to work, pick a different place to get your coffee. Or simply change the route on your way to work.
In conclusion...
Once you start to disrupt your routine and develop a daily practice of doing things differently, your brain will be triggered into perceiving things differently. Which will in turn lead to acting differently. This will open the mind and will support creative thinking. Showing us that 'silent spaces' really can ingnite the spark of innovation.
- Irene