Program To Make Music

When do you get your best thoughts? When does the name you've been trying to remember pop into your head? When do you come up with the solution to the problem you've been scratching your head about for days? When does that million dollar idea come to you?

So many different answers from so many people... "In the middle of the night." "When I'm just waking up." "When I'm driving home on the freeway." "When I'm taking a shower."

What is the common thread relating these times? -- You weren't pressing to be creative, to solve the problem or to remember the name. Your brain (left side) was either preoccupied in some "no brainer" activity or it was bypassed, as in sleep or in the time just before or just after sleep. (Specifically the REM stages).

Thinking "outside the box" is the popular expression used to refer to using the brain in more than usual analytical ways or to look at situations with a different, fresh perspective. If you could create the same state of mind in which you are more create, more intuitive, access information more effortlessly, in other words create that "outside the box" mindset, would it be worth it? For people like Thomas Edison, who created literally hundreds of inventions and innovations while, in what he called "conscious naps," that process came naturally. Einstein developed the physics and possibilities of space travel (of light actually bending) when he dreamed of himself as a rodeo cowboy riding a beam of light in a large circle starting at an origination point and around back to that same starting point in the universe.

These and so many other pioneers of thought in the arts, science and business pay attention to the things that others dismiss as coincidence. The thinkers see why things can work, not why they can't and they explore the possibilities with curiosity, enthusiasm and expectation. When having found a useful idea, they develop it into a system that can be replicated and relied upon. This information is then usually studied and duplicated by others and sold in university programs, courses like mine, books and recordings. And that's just fine. However you come upon an idea that works for you, your life is improved.

Here's an idea that many have used to solve problems, come up with creative input and to make more insightful decisions. If you like the idea, use it for 2-3 weeks consistently to get past the "newness" and self limiting premature evaluation of the concept. The payoff can be huge in what you accomplish, but in a larger scope you will have an effective system you can use often.

1) Define an issue, project or question you would like to resolve. (developing a piece of music or writing, resolving a relationship problem, getting to the next level of performance, remembering a past situation a name from the past., etc.)

2) As you are about to go to sleep, write down, at the top of a blank pad of paper, what you want your mind to address. This focuses and clarifies any ambiguities.

3) As you lie down to sleep, go through a short series of relaxation exercises to relax, still and focus your mind.

4) When you feel peaceful and concentrated, repeat the goal you have written on the top of the paper, silently to yourself. Let go of thought and the pressure to perform by creating a pleasant vacation spot in your mind. You will probably fall asleep quicker than usual and enjoy more (free association) REM sleep. Your mind will work as usual through your sleep pattern. In the REM portions of it, (about 20% of total sleep time) your mind will, no doubt, focus on your desired result and, like the student who retrieves information in a test better when relaxed, your mind will follow through with your request.

5) When you wake up, probably with no particular recollection of anything important, induce a little mental relaxation and then imagine a large screen in from of you. In your hand imagine a remote control that will turn on images of what you desired to accomplish within your dreams. Push that imaginary button and you will probably see a steam of relevant pictures on the screen you are imagining before you. OR...Sit up, get hold of the pad near you, a pen or pencil and start writing anything that comes to mind. Don't judge what you are thinking and writing. Sometimes you will get clear images and meaning and sometimes you will get thoughts seemingly unrelated to your intent. Keep going, you still may find meaning. Most dreams are metaphorical (images that represent the real issue) and your recollection may be the same. Once you have thought of or written what's on your mind, you can think through what you've put together. Maybe it will all be for nothing. But maybe you do come up with a breakthrough or solution or a better way. If it's going to come sooner than later, why not sooner?