Noodling is what I call it. Everyone has his or her own way to describe where good ideas come from, but for me, noodling just sounds like how it feels.
The Temptation
That first flicker of an idea asks to be shared and explored, gently — wherever it originates. You may not recognize it yet because light-catching ideas come in many forms. It may be a delicate dewdrop, a brilliant diamond, or just another shiny object. Move on too quickly and you may never know what could have been.
Noodling Around
This is a nurturing process. I need quiet time to look at an infant idea and its connections under different light and at different angles, alone and then with others. Meditate, mull over, muse on, noodle around, ponder, put on your thinking cap, puzzle over, reflect, ruminate, think out, think over, turn over, weigh. Whatever you call your process, preserving some time and clear mental space is a definite challenge in this age of distractions.
Connected Thinking
It can help to take a break and watch others in action. Check out this TED talk, where Steven Johnson (author of Where Good Ideas Come From shares his thoughts on how liquid networks and the slow hunch lead to breakthrough insights.
“Chance favors the connected mind.”
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