This is the next post in my series on creativity and visual thinking. It relies upon the premise that creativity involves mental ambidexterity, or a sort of internal transfer from right to left brain. The ability to do this kind of internal transfer can be practiced. One way to begin practicing it is to find a setting that is pleasant and comfortable for you. Relax and spend at least ten minutes attending only to your sensations and feelings. Avoid inner speech – don’t label anything. Do not make judgements of any kind at this phase. Listen to all the sounds first, without associating any words with them. Labeling will act to restrict full sensory experience. After doing nothing but listening for several minutes, begin walking around slowly. First touch things, and touch them just as you practiced hearing them, without labeling your sensations. Then smell things. Then see them. If you find your mind at any point breaking down into internal chatter, just relax and go back to focusing on the sensation of the moment. Don’t worry about it. continue reading »