Creativity, Ideas, and Fishing

Mason McGowan | Writer

Photo Credit: Mason McGowan

Over the years it has become more and more clear to me that creativity and great ideas are things that naturally occur and can't be forced or conjured up without feeling inauthentic. You have to allow yourself to be present, open-minded, and confident in your ability to dream. 

Catching a great idea is much like catching a fish; you have to be present in the environment, you set the bait with the desire for an idea, and it arrives in the spur of a moment. After you examine it and get a better sense of what it is, writing the idea down helps give you more bait with an even deeper desire which will attract more ideas, or fish; the stronger the bait, the bigger the fish you'll catch. 

What I've found helps me most when coming up with ideas is giving myself a chunk of time every day to daydream and let my mind wander, whether it's sitting outside or in the car, or if it's something more active and engaging like taking a walk or hike. If I try coming up with ideas when I fall out of this routine, it feels like fishing in a desert; the patience and desire is there, but the mind is in a place where ideas won't grow from. That's why I feel it's incredibly important to step back and allow yourself to daydream so that you can sow the seeds for greater creativity.