Most of us can’t simply switch on our creative brain at the drop of a hat. If you’re rushing to an appointment you’re late for, and it’s pouring with rain but you forgot to bring a coat, and you can’t stop worrying because the budgie’s not eating properly, this is not the moment you’re going to get your best thinking done.
We need to coax and cajole our brains a bit to encourage them to be creative. It’s not our normal state of mind – we spend most of our time doing something, not simply thinking. Just consider how often you’re focused on a practical task: talking, cooking, messaging, showering, watching TV, digging something out of your wallet, choosing veg in the supermarket. We don’t spend a great deal of time just ...