How to Cultivate Great Ideas

Want to cultivate great ideas? Get unstuck? Solve a problem? I know the way.

Ready for the answer?

Get still. Be quiet. Listen.

I recently visited a spot in Atlanta called RestFuel. They have all kinds of things to do for stress relief and wellness, and this was definitely a bit of a treat. But typically when I have an opportunity like this, I spend half the time just slowing my breathing down. As an anxious person, I spend this "relaxing" time wondering about important things like, "Will a timer go off to tell me when I'm done?" or "Am I doing this right?"

Yes - ironic. I often wonder if I am "resting" the right way. In other words, I NEED opportunities like this! :)

But here is what I found... once I got settled, comfortable, and warm, and without my phone exploding every few minutes, I almost drifted off to sleep. And then, something magical happened. My brain started to work in a new way.

Once I made space to relax, and let my monkey brain settle down and stop screeching, I started to have some really, really great ideas. I resolved a couple of problems I was trying to figure out. And, I felt something shift. Sure, I had experienced a physical spa type moment - but more importantly I had experienced a mental spa moment.

Instead of white knuckled worry, I allowed my mind to do its work. And I left truly feeling rejuvenated. But here is the best news - SLOWING DOWN AND BREATHING AND LISTENING DON'T HAVE TO COST ANYTHING AT ALL.

The truth is that while my time at RestFuel was very nice, peace and quiet are available to use throughout the day and for free. We can step away. We can go in the bathroom or get in the tub. We can sit at our desks, or go for a walk.

When we get still, we cultivate great ideas.

I can't say this enough - SELF-CARE IS NOT SELFISH. Let me tell you what IS selfish - when we consciously decide to push our own needs and problems aside - and here is why. First: When we do not do our own internal work, we are making the decision that we are not important, and we are modeling that behavior for others - in how they treat us, and in how they also treat themselves.

Ask yourself: Would you WANT your children, your colleagues, your partner, your friends to treat themselves the way you treat yourself?

Second: When we do not do our own internal work, we are leaving our own healing, bad habits, shadow sides, family systems, and despair to rule us. SO much damage is done by people who refuse to take care of their own stuff. It is easy to look around and see how that plays out - at work, in families, in friendships, in politics - practically everywhere.

Self-care doesn't take a trip to the spa, although those opportunities are admittedly nice. Self-care is a sacred, spiritual act that slows us down and honors our one precious life. When we care for ourselves, we keep other people from having to care for us when it is not necessary - it is an act of responsibility and it is a huge gift to those we love. When we take healing actions for ourselves, we create ripples of wholeness that help others, whether we see it or not.

Those steps start with quiet. It is as simple as that. And yes - the effects can be immediate - like solved problems and great ideas. But the truth is, the effects continue long beyond the moment of peace, in ways we can never fully see.

As you finish this post, I challenge you to sit for a minute... five... ten... or more. Let yourself unwind and listen. Allow your monkeys to get back in their cages and lock the doors. You don't need their antics. You need your peace.

Love this idea but want a hand? Join us for our Peace & Quiet meditation sessions this fall.