Image streamÂing increased my creÂativÂity and unlocked my inner genius.
You might be strugÂgling, as I was, to come up with new ideas for your business.
You might have tried many difÂferÂent techÂniques, but none of them works.
In this artÂicle, I will detail exactly how you can use image streamÂing to unlock your inner geniÂus and become more creative.
Here we go:
- “There Are No Bad Ideas”
- Big Ideas Gave Better Results
- One Is Better Than Zero
- The Goal: Understand Creativity
- Quantity Comes Before Quality
- “Write It Down”
- Neuroplasticity and Reinforcement
- Win Wenger and Project Renaissance
- The Physical Feedback Loop
- Your Actions Form Your Thinking
- Welcome To Crazy Town
- The Practice of Image Streaming
- A Profound Personal Shift
- More Creative Projects
“There Are No Bad Ideas”
I’m told I was a creÂatÂive child, but I lost that flair growÂing up.
My lack of creÂatÂive ideas became a probÂlem at the beginÂning of my pubÂlic relaÂtions career. I feared being invited to brainÂstormÂing sessions.
During brainÂstorms, I would sit there, quiet and unable to come up with good ideas. Only rarely would I be able to proÂduce a single idea worthy of furÂther consideration.
At first, I barÂgained with myself. One doesn’t need creÂativÂity for creativity’s sake, I argued.
“I can rely on my straÂtegic mind instead,” I thought.
Big Ideas Gave Better Results
One cliÂent wanted to raise awareÂness of their recruitÂment serÂvices. My “straÂtegic” line of thinkÂing stated that I should do a SWOT anaÂlysÂis based on data and, based on those insights, posÂiÂtion the brand accordÂingly in the news media.
I would pitch straÂtegicÂally chosen conÂflicts to claÂriÂfy my client’s posÂiÂtion to news reportÂers and editÂors and get one, two, three, four, or five menÂtions over time.
It was always a lot of hard groundÂwork and patience, but it worked. And it could have worked for the recruitÂment serÂvice, too.
Despite relyÂing on this “straÂtegic mind” of mine, my best work still came from rare sparks of creativity.
On a rare whim, I wanted to do someÂthing difÂferÂent for the recruitÂment serÂvice. I wanted to know if job applicÂants lied on their resumes. This had nothÂing to do with the brand’s posÂiÂtion — I was just curious.
I reckoned that most people lie on their resumes. But no one talked about it.
We decided that it was a fun idea, and in typÂicÂal PR fashÂion, we comÂmisÂsioned a survey:
It turned out that 4 in 5 would hapÂpily admit to havÂing lied on their resume. And this statÂistÂic made the news — big time.
A flash of creÂativÂity yielÂded betÂter and more instantÂanÂeous resÂults than my typÂicÂal straÂtegic process.
Also, the creÂatÂive outÂcomes demanÂded more praise from both cliÂent and employÂer than my sysÂtemÂatÂic and methÂodÂicÂal grind.
One Is Better Than Zero
To conÂcenÂtrate on getÂting betÂter PR ideas, I stopped listenÂing to what my colÂleagues were sayÂing, and after one hour of blockÂing out the chatÂter, then — perÂhaps — I could come up with at least one usable idea.
One is betÂter than zero, at least.
But at this point, my colÂleagues had enerÂgetÂicÂally proÂduced numerÂous ideas. And I had just been sitÂting there. Quietly. The whole thing was depressÂing and humiliating.
Solving probÂlems using a straÂtegic proÂcess was funcÂtionÂal and, comÂbined with the grind, kept me afloat at the agency.
But, I had to become more creÂatÂive. But how?
The Goal: Understand Creativity
I took the only path I knew to take: I devised a straÂtegic proÂcess to solve the probÂlem. I researched informÂaÂtion, and I developed a testÂable hypothesis.
My first insight was that there are people who conÂstantly proÂduce big ideas. How, I wondered. I wanted to know precisely.
I quickly realÂised that people who came up with big ideas also had terÂrible ideas. It seemed more proÂductÂive to focus on genÂerÂatÂing lots of ideas rather than tryÂing only to have good ones pop up in your brain.
This might be intuÂitÂive for most creÂatÂives, but this prinÂciple was news to me:
If you genÂerÂate 100 ideas, at least one will be helpÂful. If you genÂerÂate 1,000 ideas, at least one will be big.
I might have lost my creÂativÂity at a young age, but I underÂstood statistics:
I needed to learn how to have more ideas before learnÂing how to have big ideas. But how do you proÂduce many creÂatÂive ideas when you struggle to creÂate a single one?
Quantity Comes Before Quality
My obserÂvaÂtion was that creÂatÂive people are intuÂitÂive and often highly visuÂal. They seemed to be able to turn off parts of their brains tasked with logic and linÂear thinkÂing and instead “see” difÂferÂent ideas pop up.
Big idea creÂatÂives seemed to be able to go with a flow of subÂconÂscious visuÂalÂisaÂtion more freely than othÂers, as if they knew how to trust and surÂrender to their instincts.
I kept readÂing to find sciÂentifÂic explanÂaÂtions for these charÂacÂterÂistÂics. Finding such answers proved more fasÂcinÂatÂing than I thought:
Before we developed human lanÂguage and inner diaÂlogue, our minds were natÂurÂally visuÂal. Without lanÂguage, they had to be.
Many of us use inner diaÂlogue to reasÂon, a linÂear proÂcess. Linear thinkÂing has merÂit, but we might also be squelchÂing visuÂal notions.
I read about how many geniÂuses throughÂout hisÂtory have been credÂitÂing sigÂniÂficÂant breakÂthroughs to visuÂal repÂresÂentÂaÂtions that emerged instantly, like a flash of lightning.
Many geniÂuses were also highly proÂductÂive, but their outÂcomes seemed to be based on quantÂity rather than qualÂity. This insight is sugÂgesÂted to supÂport the importÂance of havÂing many ideas as a preÂrequisÂite to getÂting the resÂult of havÂing big ideas.
“Write It Down”
I also found that quite a few hisÂtorÂic geniÂuses tenÂded to write things down.
What did all of this mean?
I didn’t know how to pracÂticÂally conÂvince my subÂconÂscious to push more brilÂliance into my conÂscious mind.
And I still didn’t know how to proÂduce lots of ideas.
But I knew how to write things down!
When researchÂing litÂerÂatÂure on behaÂviour psyÂchoÂlogy, a parÂticÂuÂlar theme seemed to be recurring:
For any behaÂviour, you get more of what you reinforce.
What if writÂing things down is more than just a quantÂitÂatÂive effort?
What if writÂing ideas down reinÂforces a steady stream of ideas?
I decided to take a quantÂitÂatÂive approach to note-taking.
I pushed myself to write down ten ideas per day for three months. At first, it took a lot of effort and time. But at the end of three months, I could jot down 20 ideas in as many minutes — with little effort. Most of them were rubÂbish, but still. 20 ideas in 20 minutes!
I was amazed.
All those scribÂblings, noteÂbooks, and ideas. Reinforcement works!
For any behaÂviour, you get more of what you reinforce.
Good stuff, yes.
Complicated terÂritÂory? Yes, that too.
Neuroplasticity and Reinforcement
At this time, there wasn’t much litÂerÂatÂure on the topÂic. However, the emerÂging evidÂence for neuroÂplasÂtiÂcity seemed promising.
Research on neuroÂplasÂtiÂcity stated that the brain could wire and rewire itself based on externÂal stimÂuli. It sugÂgests that our brain conÂstantly reinÂforces and elimÂinÂates neurÂal pathways.
So, I assumed that writÂing ideas down might reinÂforce neurÂal pathÂways helpÂful in genÂerÂatÂing ideas. I tried rigÂorÂously writÂing down each idea — and I got more ideas.
Now, please note that I’m not makÂing any claims here. I underÂstand the difÂferÂence between anecÂdotÂal experÂiÂences and sciÂentifÂic facts. I know the difÂferÂence between corÂrelÂaÂtion and causality.
But I nevÂer set out to estabÂlish new facts. I only set out to find ways to become more creÂatÂive. If I got there by trickÂing my psyÂchoÂlogy, it didn’t matÂter. If it worked, it didn’t matÂter why.
As I began perÂformÂing increasÂingly betÂter durÂing brainÂstorms, my conÂfidÂence grew. And conÂfidÂence is likely part of the explanÂaÂtion, too. I kept writÂing down my ideas, and the experÂiÂment seemed to work fine.
But, I still felt I hadn’t underÂstood the creÂatÂive proÂcess. And it was hard work writÂing down every new idea.
I kept wonÂderÂing why writÂing ideas down was essenÂtial to the proÂcess. If I stopped writÂing ideas down, my proÂgress quickly platÂeaued. I was missÂing someÂthing, I thought.
Win Wenger and Project Renaissance
Unfortunately, I could not find sciÂentifÂic litÂerÂatÂure on what type of behaÂviours seemed to have a more sigÂniÂficÂant impact (and why) on neuroÂplasÂtiÂcity. This is where I stumbled upon Project Renaissance and the conÂtrariÂan ideas of Win Wenger, PhD.
Wenger had developed a hypoÂthesÂis that I found to be highly interÂestÂing for my line of research: he argued that neurÂal pathÂways were reinÂforced by physÂicÂal feedÂback only. Meaning: Just thinkÂing about things doesn’t reinÂforce behaÂviours. Only physÂicÂal action does.
For instance: If you’re thinkÂing of going to the gym without actuÂally going, your brain will interÂpret this as a waste of energy.
There was an evolÂuÂtionÂary arguÂment for Wenger’s line of reasoning:
Infants must learn a lot to surÂvive — quickly. But conÂvenÂtionÂal skill develÂopÂment and habit buildÂing are too time-conÂsumÂing. Infants learn differently.
The Physical Feedback Loop
In some sense, infants are born with a “fully wired brain.” This allows infants to learn rapÂidly by reduÂcing neurÂal pathÂways instead of creÂatÂing them. How does this work?
Imagine a newÂborn baby. How does it learn to conÂtrol arms and legs? The baby’s brains send milÂlions of sigÂnals, some proÂduÂcing a physÂicÂal response. This creÂates a feedÂback loop.
The feedÂback loop informs the baby’s brain about what conÂtrols what. And sigÂnals that don’t resÂult in physÂicÂal feedÂback, and the brain’s synÂaptic strucÂture are effiÂciently chisÂelled out.
And through neuroÂplasÂtiÂcity, the physÂicÂal feedÂback loop keeps affectÂing our brain structures.
Since human lanÂguage and inner diaÂlogue entered our evolÂuÂtionÂary path so late, menÂtal reasÂonÂing still sits entirely outÂside this ancient neurÂal feedÂback system.
The feedÂback loop sugÂgests that most of us might be wastÂing lots of menÂtal energy on buildÂing skills and habits without propÂerly reinÂforÂcing them physically.
Your Actions Form Your Thinking
Here’s one way of describÂing the potency of the physÂicÂal feedÂback loop:
If you get a great idea but negÂlect to maniÂfest it through a physÂicÂal act (like writÂing it down), you send sigÂnals to your brain to downsÂize those synÂaptic strucÂtures to conÂserve energy.
If you get great ideas and you maniÂfest them physÂicÂally, your brain will reinÂforce those synÂaptic strucÂtures to increase your chances of surÂvivÂal. If you get great ideas but negÂlect to maniÂfest them physÂicÂally, your brain will weakÂen those synÂaptic strucÂtures to conÂserve energy.
As I was readÂing about his someÂwhat esoÂterÂic findÂings on Wenger, he had more to say on the subject:
What if our lanÂguage-drivÂen inner diaÂlogue fails to tap into availÂable subÂconÂscious resources? What if sigÂniÂficÂant reserves of ingenuÂity and creÂativÂity reside in us subÂconÂsciously? It’s a beauÂtiÂful idea, for sure.
Welcome To Crazy Town
Wenger sugÂgesÂted that the subÂconÂscious parts of our brains, being “ancient” from an evolÂuÂtionÂary perÂspectÂive, might not “speak” human lanÂguage. Instead, he proÂposed that these parts of our brains comÂmuÂnicÂate visuÂally. This is why dreams are primarÂily visuÂal, for instance.
To unlock our inner ingenuÂity, we must tap into these ancient parts of our brains. We must find a way to conÂdiÂtion our conÂscious mind to visuÂalÂisaÂtions bubÂbling up from our subÂconÂscious depths.
Wenger sugÂgesÂted a form of medÂitÂaÂtion, image streamÂing, which was then reinÂforced using pen and paper or a tape recorder.
Okay. Welcome to crazy town, I thought.
How did you end up in this new-age space?
Still, easy enough to put to the test.
The Practice of Image Streaming
I starÂted pracÂtising image streamÂing. I sit down for a few minutes, and I close my eyes. Unlike medÂitÂaÂtion, where you pracÂtice letÂting go of thoughts enterÂing your mind, you wait for visuÂalÂisaÂtions to enter your mind.
You then stay with whatever visuÂals maniÂfest, examinÂing them in detail using your inner eye. Directly afterÂwards, you write down your observations.
You begin by examÂing one visuÂal per sesÂsion. As you get used to the pracÂtice, visuÂals flow more freely. They also become more vivid in colÂour and detail. You can do many of them if you write them down dirÂectly afterwards.
Image streamÂing is a simple habit. You sit down, close your eyes, and relax. If you’re familÂiÂar with medÂitÂaÂtion, that will help. Instead of letÂting thoughts pass, you pay attenÂtion to any imagery that presents itself mentally.
After a short sesÂsion, you describe any images you encountered as detailed as posÂsible into a tape recordÂer or onto a noteÂpad or a word proÂcessing docÂuÂment. Whatever works for you.
A Profound Personal Shift
For me, the resÂults of comÂbinÂing visuÂalÂisaÂtion with note-takÂing have been breathtaking.
Daily, I now see the visuÂals of probÂlems, soluÂtions, ideas, conÂcepts, comÂplexÂity, patÂterns, music, texts, and people. Before I starÂted pracÂtising image streamÂing, I didn’t see anyÂthing. I only heard my inner voice talkÂing linÂearly in a lanÂguage I could understand.
The difÂferÂence is difÂfiÂcult for me to explain, but the experÂiÂence of seeÂing most things as visuÂals instead of hearÂing them as words is profound.
It could be that image streamÂing works because I think it does. One perÂsonÂal anecÂdote doesn’t conÂstiÂtute evidÂence. But even if I’m wrong about the physÂicÂal feedÂback loop and image-streamÂing, I’m still happy to reap the beneÂfits personally.
Still, as a theÂorÂetÂicÂal frameÂwork for increasÂing creÂativÂity, image streamÂing is conÂcepÂtuÂally interÂestÂing — and furÂther testable.
Thinking of it, I betÂter write this down…
Please supÂport my blog by sharÂing it with othÂer PR- and comÂmuÂnicÂaÂtion proÂfesÂsionÂals. For quesÂtions or PR supÂport, conÂtact me via jerry@​spinfactory.​com.
More Creative Projects
My Creative Projects
I strive to keep learnÂing to enhance my creÂativÂity. Here are a few of my more focused projects:
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