The Aha Moment
You are just going through the day keeping your brain busy trying to reconcile ideas that come in many forms and then ‘aha!’ one word connects it all together. Maybe is one image that makes it all make sense. That object that was right in front of your face seems to talk to you and make you go ‘Eureka!’. Of course you don’t need to run home naked like Archimedes did when she figured out how to measure the volume of an object. His method might not worked but I bet it was a good moment for him according to the myth. The aha moment is that lightbulb that goes on in your head that allows you to see it all clear.
I had that moment yesterday. I was working on writing a few things for the blog, organizing a few painting and sculpting parties, and doing the graphic design thing for marketing, and then it happened. The concept behind the new collection I’m working on made complete sense with just one word. That word connected events and its consequences to provide substance to the concept from which a lot can be said and discussed. I don’t want to reveal the details at this point and spoil the surprise but I want to share some advice to make the aha moment happen and what to do when it happens.
The aha moment generally comes as the result of a problem that requires a solution that has been bothering and interrupting your thoughts and probably your daily routine. It is not the same as having an idea that is taking shape and growing like a baby inside the womb. The idea is already born and other ideas are born with it. You see these elements floating around but you need a way to interconnect and make sense of all of them as one. Finding that connection is not necessarily pure luck because you are thinking about it. You might be taking time to read about it and talk about it. That is my first point of advice: take time to observe, read, talk, and play with the elements of the problem. Whatever works for you to feed the idea and make it stronger.
The idea starts growing and feeling more comfortable to see the elements together. When you get to that level of comfort my advice is to move away, step away, let it go for a while, turn around and do something else. Find something that makes you relax. You know the idea is still there. Subconsciously you are still working on it. Doing something else will allow you to loosen your muscles and your neurons. Play a game, watch tv, listen to music, take a walk, take a nap, and come back refreshed. Your senses will be ready to receive revelation. When you get it, and you will, write it down. You can also take a picture, record a voice memo. Do not let the revelation fly away. Preserve that bridge that is now connecting all the elements together.
Missing The Point
I enjoy watching archaeology shows specially those of ancient Egypt. Even more so when Dr. Zahi Hawass is in the show. He is a world-renowned Egyptian archaeologist . In one of the shows he is sitting in front of a recently discover tomb waiting for the workers to open it up. It is a very important moment. Next to him there is a young intern. She spent the time talking about her husband and how he was not happy with her being there. Dr. Hawass was getting very annoyed by her constant nagging. He explained that they were at the verge of a great archaeological moment. They were witnessing the opening of a tomb that was sealed for thousands of years. He advised her to enjoy the experience and ponder in the discovery. She just kept talking about her husband. She was missing the point even when she was right in front of it.
Once the tomb was opened they discovered a mummy inside. That just added more excitement to the discovery and Dr. Hawass was thrilled. As they uncovered the mummy with extreme care, the intern just kept nagging about her husband. By that point Dr. Hawass was so annoyed by the intern that he said, “I would be more than glad to mummify you just as this mummy if you don’t stop talking about your husband”. It was hilarious.
Share this: