Average human “looks without
seeing, listens without hearing,
touches without feeling,
eats without tasting, moves without physical awareness,
inhales without awareness
of odour or fragrance, and talks without thinking”
(Leonardo da Vinci)
Creativity also can be
enhance and increase through our senses of touch, taste and smell. All these
senses – including visual and sound – will bring impact on our creativity. When
you touch, don’t forget to feel it. When you eat, try to taste it. When you breathe,
aware of smell around you. “If we use all
five senses – scent, sight, sound, touch, and taste – to stimulate our minds
while working,” explain Jane Porter, writer for Fast Company website, “then
this may spark more creativity.” Remember, idea is all around you.
Touch
I cannot work in a very
cool environment. When I go to the state library, I will take a walk every half
an hour for 3-5 minutes to get myself warm. In my office, if nobody is around I
prefer to use fan. At home, open windows is good enough. Temperature surround
our environment impacts our focus and work performance. Keep our office too
cold or too hot may cause errors and inefficiency in the workplace. Sense of
touch really can affect us. Another example, if you wear your watch on the other
hand for a day or switching your wallet from your right pocket to your left,
these adjustments of daily routines can stimulate creativity too. Learn to
touch creatively and really feeling it.
Taste
Jane Porter writes, “The connection between food and your mood
has been demonstrated across studies over the years. Incorporating fruits,
green vegetables, and complex carbohydrates into your diet helps with energy
and focus. Fill your body with junk, and your mind likely won't be running on
the best fuel.” For me, coffee (not a junk!) is my idea-mood booster. Some
suggest a wee bit of alcohol can boost creativity because it helps block out
the rational left brain. But when we are at the office, coffee or tea, is
preferable. And powerful too. Try this also, eat a fruit – for example, apple.
Look at it in your hand and then slowly put it in your mouth and close your
eyes. Notice everything as it hits your tongue. Don't chew it yet. See how long
you can go just tasting it. Your mouth should water with anticipation as you
continue to roll it on your tongue, sucking and tasting the sweetness of that
apple. When you start to chew it be aware of everything that you taste. Do you
realize how good apple is? Learn to taste and really tasting it.
Smell
I like to go to Starbuck and order my favourite
thick-black coffee. Even if I don’t buy, I sometime pretend to look around the
shop but secretly I sniff for that amazing aromatic strong smell of coffee
brewing. Oh so nice! (I’m not an addict-er, mind you, I’m simply a passionate
coffee lover). Often when I need to refocus and attract inspiration, I just
smell the coffee, which I find very helpful for me to stimulate my thoughts.
Books also can create such stimulation for me. Maybe you like the smell of tea
or flower or fresh oceanic air or perfume candle, use it to stimulate your
focus and creativity. Put it somewhere close to you. Creativity must smell
good! Find your stimulus and really smelling it. Enjoy!
Utilizing the sense of
touching, tasting and smelling (hearing and seeing too) are the easiest way to
instantly tap into our own creative potential. By experiencing and
experimenting with different sensations, we open ourselves up to new ideas.
Like what Leonardo da Vinci like to say it: “The five senses are the ministers of the soul.”
Idea is all around you
Lord, Give
Us Today Our Daily Idea(s)
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