Creativity is often seen as a gift, an elusive or mysterious quality that only some people are born with. But what if we were told that creativity can be enhanced by tapping into the intelligence that exists beyond our brain?
In the book “The Extended Mind”, science writer Annie Murphy Paul argues that our thinking is not limited to our brains but is shaped by external forces that extend to our bodies, our surroundings, and our relationships. She provides extensive examples of how we can use these external resources to improve our cognitive abilities, such as memory, attention, and imagination.
By thinking outside the brain, we can access a richer and more diverse source of intelligence to fuel our creativity. This is something that most creatives either understand intuitively or have experienced directly.
Much has been written, researched, proposed, theorized, and studied on the subject of human cognition. These efforts have produced countless illuminating insights, but they are limited by their assumption that thinking happens only inside the brain. Much less attention has been paid to the ways in which people use the world to think: the gestures of the hands, the space of a sketchbook, the act of listening to someone tell a story, or the task of teaching someone else. These “extra-neural” inputs change the way we think, and it could even be said that they constitute a part of the thinking process itself.
Scientists, artists, authors, leaders, inventors, entrepreneurs, and creatives have all used the world around them as raw material for their trains of thought. Murphy Paul proposes that it is time to reclaim the rightful place of all the other forms of thinking that happen outside the brain as crucial to how the human race has achieved its remarkable feats of intellect and creativity.
So how can you think outside the brain and boost your creativity? Here are some of the ways showcased in the book:
- Use your body: Your body is not just a vehicle for your brain, but a source of information and insight. By paying attention to your feelings, movements, and gestures, you can access a deeper level of understanding and intuition. For example, you can use your hands to manipulate objects, sketch ideas, or gesture while you talk, to enhance your spatial and visual thinking. You can also use your body to regulate your emotions, by changing your posture, breathing, or facial expression, to achieve a more optimal state of mind for creativity.
- Use your space: Your physical environment is not just a backdrop for your thinking, but a tool that can shape and support it. By organizing, designing, and interacting with your space, you can extend your memory, attention, and imagination. For example, you can use your space to store and retrieve information, by creating external memory aids, such as notes, diagrams, or calendars. You can also use your space to stimulate and inspire you, by choosing colors, sounds, and objects that evoke positive emotions and associations.
- Use your relationships: Your social connections are not just a source of comfort and support, but a resource that can enhance your thinking and learning. By collaborating, communicating, and empathizing with others, you can access a wider range of perspectives, skills, and knowledge. For example, you can use your relationships to generate and refine ideas, by brainstorming, giving feedback, or co-creating with others. You can also use your relationships to challenge and expand your thinking, by exposing yourself to different viewpoints, cultures, and experiences.
The next time you face a creative challenge, don’t just use your head. Think outside the brain and see what happens. You might be surprised by the results.
How do you think outside the brain in your creative process? What are some examples of how you have used your body, your space, or your relationships to boost your creativity?
