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Ever stare at a blank page, wanting a brilliant idea to appear? Don’t lie - I know you have!

The pressure mounts, the minutes tick by, but stilll...nothing. It's frustrating, right?

But the truth is: forcing ideas like this often backfires. It's not effective!

You see, your best ideas often come when you least expect them. They'll find their way to you when you're zoning out in the shower, on a walk, or washing the dishes. It sounds absurd, yet there's a perfectly valid reason why.

So today we'll uncover why this is the case and how you can make the most of it. You'll end up seeing ideation from a new perspective, empowering the way you come up with your best ideas.

Let's get right to it...

Why your best ideas come when you least expect them:

Whether you're taking a shower or out on a walk in the countryside, your best ideas likely come to you at the most random times.

While you may at first think this is strange, there's an interesting reason behind it all.

Here's the breakdown...

System 1 or System 2 Thinking?

A few months ago, I was on my usual morning walk weaving through the pathway of leaves in a small yet peaceful woods.

As a pair of blackbirds sung their early morning chorus nestled in the depths of the lively beech trees, my mind wandered to the concept of ideation.

Step after step, I began thinking; where do ideas come from?, what conditions lead us to a 'good' idea?

Then it hit me...

I thought back to a book I read two summers ago while on holiday in Menorca, off the coast of Barcelona in Spain.

The book, "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman centres around two modes of thinking: System 1 and System 2 thinking.

This approach to thinking can help us explain why we get our most creative ideas in the spur of the moment.

But first, let's make sure you understand the differences between the two.

Stick around and make sure you're paying attention...

The two contrasting thinking systems:

System 1 Thinking (Fast Thinking):

This mode of thinking is fast, intuitive, and automatic.

It relies on heuristics and mental shortcuts to make quick decisions and judgments based on past experiences and patterns.

It's the kind of thinking that occurs in the background and requires minimal effort.

However, it can cause biases and errors too, so watch out for those!

System 2 Thinking (Slow Thinking):

System 2 thinking is slower, more deliberate, and analytical.

It involves conscious, effortful cognitive processes.

So, it's used when solving complex problems, engaging in critical thinking, or making thorough decisions.

This mode of thinking requires more mental resources and often centres around careful consideration and evaluation.

Using system 1 and system 2 when generating ideas:

When generating ideas, the interplay between System 1 and System 2 thinking is interesting:

System 1 thinking for idea generation:

System 1 thinking is useful when generating creative and unique ideas - why

Because it draws on patterns stored in your subconscious mind.

It can make surprising and novel connections between unrelated concepts, leading to innovative ideas.

It's like a "mental playground" where ideas emerge without conscious analysis.

System 2 thinking for idea evaluation:

While System 1 thinking is great for idea generation, System 2 thinking occurs when you test and refine those ideas.

It helps you apply critical thinking, consider potential consequences, and decide which ideas are worth pursuing.

System 2 is the "editor" that helps filter and shape the raw creative output from System 1.

Here’s what this means for you:

If you're spending intense moments sitting at your desk trying to think of creative ideas (system 2 thinking), you are pulling the short straw.

You are thinking too much!

After all, your best ideas come to you when you least expect them.

Take the example of how I came up with the idea for this newsletter - walking through the woods immersed in nature.

Your creativity thrives when you let your mind wander.

You start making unexpected connections and tap into your intuition.

But this system 1 thinking is only the seed.

You have to plant that seed and care for it so that it can grow.

You must turn those creative ideas into actionable plans or concrete concepts.

It's system 2 thinking that's essential here - for analysis and refinement.

In essence, creativity often benefits from a balance between both modes of thinking.

Starting with more relaxed, open-minded, System 1 thinking helps you generate unique ideas, while System 2 thinking can help you channel and develop those ideas effectively.

Have a little think about that and maybe you’ll be on to your next big idea!

Until this time next week,

Ryan