How to Be Innovative #1 Take A Break from Information Overload

The day-to-day pressures of life mean that we often do not have time to ponder new ideas. Since the invention of the Gutenberg Printing Press, we have been producing more books and information than an average human being could ever read in their lifetime. The beauty, and irony, of Gutenberg’s invention was the ability to produce a mass amount of books at extremely low cost. This resulted in the unfamiliar dilemma of having a wide choice of books to read, and the beginning of what is now called information overload.

Today we have computers, iPhones, iPads, Kindles and Podcasts that feed us with gigabytes of information at even lower cost. We are bombarded with advertising, entertainment, news, music, WhatsApp messages, phone calls… the list goes on. Unfortunately, much of the information we receive is of little value. We are increasingly being driven by technology – we have to answer that e-mails, constantly check our messages during dinner, even in toilet. In 2016, Malaysians spent 4 hours 38 minutes on PC/tablet, 3 hours 37 minutes on smartphone, and 2 hours 9 minutes on internet TV (such as YouTube) per day. In one week, on average Malaysians spent 1,519 minutes or 25 hours 32 minutes on mobile phone online! 56% is using for social media apps and 43% is for watching videos online*.

                                                   

Facebook and WhatsApp are the main sources of information overload for young people especially. They can be useful tools for sharing information, but when taken to the extreme, they can become a colossal waste of time. While the printing press helped make books easily available, the Internet has caused an exponential growth in information. With this information overload, how can we think?

To function effectively, the brain needs time and space to process the tsunami of stimulus it receives. The first step is to evaluate your day. How much time do you spend responding, interacting and reacting to technology – be it e-mail, smartphone, TV or online game? You may be surprised at how much technology has come to rule your life. It’s time to re-evaluate how you live, decide what is important to you and re-establish control over your life. Technology is good, but let you the one who control it, not the other way round. Giving yourself time and space to think is fundamental to becoming more innovative and creative.  

Practical Suggestions:

§Give yourself sometime to think. Take an hour off and sit in the park or take a long walk and do nothing – you will be surprised at the ideas that come to you.

§  Set aside a day or half a day a week to switch off (or in Aeroplane mode) all electronic communication. This will be hard at first but keep at it. Use the time to do something you enjoy. Something physical is better.

§  Take time to delete junk mails and pictures received from WhatsApp that is not important to you.

Lord, Give Us Today Our Daily Idea(s)

*Source: https://lavaprotocols.com/2016/03/14/mobile-malaysia-usage-infographic/)

Change Your Life: Be Mindful of the Wonder

“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth
are never alone or weary of life” (Rachel Carson).

What we see in the world around us is to a large extent a matter of choice. Do we take time every day to look, really look, at things? To find the beauty, or the humour, or the charm, or the mystery in them? When driving car to work or better at traffic light, do we stare aimlessly out the window, or do we make an effort to look at the colour of the sky, the shapes of the clouds? Do we look closely enough to allow ourselves to be delighted by the funny little dog trotting along the sidewalk? Or to feel sympathy, or admiration, or sadness when we watch an elderly woman walking slowly and carefully out her front door?

It is natural to be preoccupied by our own thoughts, or to be lulled into not noticing all that is around us while we do routine errands. And there is nothing wrong in daydreaming from time to time (in fact is it good). But the more we can be mindful of what we are doing as we doing it, the healthier and happier we will be.

Mindfulness is a choice, and it is something we can practice: When our mind wanders – whether while eating, doing the dishes, writing a report, or walking to our car – we can gently shift our focus back to the wonders that are everywhere to be found.

I like what Helen Keller (she lost her sight and hearing when she was 19 months old as a result of an illness) noted in her essay, Three Days to See:

“I who am blind can give one hint to those who see – one admonition to those who would make full use of the gift of sight: Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind… Hear the music of voices, the song of the bird, the mighty strains of an orchestra, as if you would be stricken deaf tomorrow. Touch each object you want to touch as if tomorrow your tactile sense would fail. Smell the perfume of flowers, taste with relish each morsel, as if tomorrow you could never smell and taste again. Make the most of every sense: glory in all the facets of pleasure and beauty which the world reveals to you.”

Don’t overlook life’s treasures,

Be mindful of the wonder.

Lord, Give Us Today Our Daily Idea(s)

 References:

1. Choose the Life You Want: 101 Ways to Create You Own Road to Happiness by Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD (New York: The Experiment, 2012)

2. Full Catastrophe Living” Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness by J. Kabat-Zinn (New York: Delta, 1990)

The Art of Seeing Creatively

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)

The world, everything around us, for creative people is a magical experience. When we observe something closely, and follow it moment by moment, we disengage from the chaotic of our own consciousness. This is a good condition to nurture our creativity. A great stillness and peace will comes over us. Our minds become quieter and relax. By focusing on something, it is as though we are being brought into focus. If before this we “looks without seeing” now we learn look and really seeing.

One day I walk at the recreation park and stopped by the lake and look at the water. First I noticed on the surface my own reflection, ripples, water beetles, and water plants and flowers. Then I look down into the water, adjusting my eyes, changed my positions and angles many time – I saw fishes, coins, larva and surprisingly a crab! I will forever thought that the lake is boring if I haven’t really take time to look and seeing it. Many time ideas come when we just observe with focus, see with curiosity and look with interest at things around us. Look at nature, animals, human beings and even a crab will spark an idea for you, yes, that crab inspired me to write this.

Albert Einstein writes (maybe out of context) that, “Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else has ever thought." Learn and practise the art of seeing creatively. When you believe that the world around us have something to say about creativity, you’ll see it. Maybe you can try these “sight” exercises to increase your creativity. Remember, ideas is all around you.

§  Look up into the sky or sea or ocean or mountain or all at least once a day and towards the far horizon.

§  Describe a room or a scene as accurately as possible.

§  Practice doodling and drawing. Sketch people's faces (I drew my girlfriend’s face on our date).

§  Look for the subtle clues to people's moods and feelings reflected in their eyes and body movements.

§  Visit museum or art gallery sometime. Become more aware of great photography, artwork and paintings. What's great and wonderful about them?

§  Try watch movies as though you were the cameraman. What do you appreciate about the different angles, lighting, and presentation in each scene?

§  Wear a blindfold for 10 minutes and then slowly remove it and notice the effects. First, close your eyes again and thanks God with appreciation and gratitude because you’re not born blind. Then, look around one more time. Do you notice what is not there before?

Take a walk, run or sit and observe.

Look and really seeing. Idea is all around you.

Lord, Give Us Today Our Daily Idea(s)

How-To Generate Ideas #14: Take A Walk

“If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking.

Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk”

(Raymond Inmon)

One of the greatest creative thinkers of all time – Albert Einstein – I read, always took frequent walks every time he wants to solve problems and generate ideas. And no wonder. Walking gets creative ideas flowing in at least three ways according to Maggie Greenwood-Robinson in her book 20/20 Thinking:

1)     It increases and improves oxygen flow to the brain, energizing brain cells for sharper mental performance.

2)     Some scientists believe that exercise, in general, triggers the release of various brain chemicals that enhance creativity.

3)     Others speculate that exercise may subdue activity in the left half of the brain, the part that deals with logic, and stimulate the right half, which is responsible for creative thought.

Walking and exercise in general enhances both mood and creativity. What kind of exercise? Depend on your physical capacity. Just get physical. Writer of Creativity Now, Jurgen Wolff suggests it is “enough to get your heart beating faster, but not so demanding that you’re gasping for air. This might include fast walking, jogging, or using a cross-trainer or stepper, or even continuous vigorous vacuuming.” He continues, “Just running in place for a few minutes, using a stationary bike, or going up and down the nearest set of stairs will all get your blood flowing faster and more oxygen to your brain.”

Walk. Walk. Walk. Go to the public park such as Taman Rimba or Taman Sahabat. Walk around the Kampung (village) or city. Go to supermarket such as Giant, Everise, H&L, Jaya Jusco, Metro, etc. (or megamalls). Walk around your office area. Walk in campus or university area. Raymond Inmon said, “If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.” That angel part, I’m a bit skeptic. That walking and creative ideas part – that’s guarantee!

Lord, Give Us Today Our Daily Idea(s)

How-to Generate Ideas #1: Engage in Observation Time

“Ideas come from everything” (Alfred Hitchcock)

You want to have great ideas? Well, it won't happen in a vacuum. You need some way of getting your brain to think in new and creative ways. Commit time to specific sessions where you stimulate your brain into thinking differently. Being a good Malaysian and sometime labeled as a loner guy, my favorite method is people watching. Alone, uninterrupted, relax and observe. A simple walk around Kuala Lumpur city or Kuching city can introduce me to exciting activity and behavior that makes me think anew. Sitting in the mall with Starbuck coffee also one of my favorites. Any crowded urban area, mall or park can do the same.

Lord, Give Us Today Our Daily Idea(s)