A Book, a Pen, and a Post-it®
Posted on February 22nd, 2007 in Uncategorized
While doing my hourly re-read of Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude yesterday, I got to the section of the book (…And Something More) where the authors discuss writing down ideas as they come to us: capturing those flashes of inspiration that jump into our brains at odd times, and then disappear if we don’t grab them and hold on.
“When you receive a flash of inspiration, write it down! This may be the something more that you are looking for. We believe that communication with Infinite Intelligence is through the subconscious mind. We believe you should establish the habit of immediately writing down flashes of inspiration as they are communicated to you from the subconscious to the conscious.” - pg. 69, Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude
This is one of the cool things about re-reading the book: the first time I read it, the seed of this idea was planted, and I started to practice it. This time, while working through it, I was ready with pen and paper before I started to read.
On my way to the couch with my book in hand, I grabbed a pen and, instead of just some sheets of paper, a pad of Post-its®. They just happened to be the most convenient thing to write on at the time.
It was like the Universe had something planned for me. Even before hitting the passage above, I was stopping and scribbling away. The ideas were just flying!
By the time I was done, I had 14 ideas spread over something like 6 Post-its®.
And I still got a good solid hour of reading in. Maybe it has something to do with the way we see writing on Post-its®… they have the feeling of reminders about them, not full blown plans for something that needs to happen immediately. Every time something new came to me, it went on the Post-it®, and I went back to my reading. When a post it was filled, it got stuck to the back of the book. And then, the ideas on the Post-its® went into my Simpleology Dream Catcher (one of main “trusted systems”, a la GTD).
Give it a try the next time you want to get some solid reading done, but you know that your own brain is going to throw distractions at you.
I just wish that I had snapped a picture of the back of the book covered in little yeloow pieces of paper before transferring the ideas and then throwing them away.
This post has 7 comments
February 24th, 2007
As a practice I alway carry a little notebook and a pen with me. Most of the time I get ideas when I am traveling. Of course as a passenger !
Sham
February 25th, 2007
Sham: I do the same thing… I usually have at least something with me to write stuff down on. It’s when I’m driving and something comes to me, I start fumbling with the record function on my cell phone. I just can’t get caught now, though, since talking on one without a hands free setup is now illegal where I live.
February 26th, 2007
I think that it is great to write things down too. My husband I both keep a notepad with us. I think that God speaks to us through our words and that we have to be careful what we write down because a lot of times it comes to pass.
February 27th, 2007
Kristal: you’re right about what we write down coming to pass. I’ve read a few places that the simple act of writing down our goals just once, then putting them away and not looking at them, increases our chances of achieving them. The number that I remember was something like 80% of them happening!
Thanks for the comment!
February 27th, 2007
I also keep a moleskine small notebook with me to write down any ideas as they come. I also keep a larger moleskine which I use to write out my goals and missions on paper. I try to do this as much as possible. I have found that the simple act of rewriting my dreams and goals lifts me up and generates ideas for me.
February 27th, 2007
I think I must try out your idea and always keep a notepad with me to jot down ideas as they come to me.
February 27th, 2007
Bradley: I’ve been wondering what a moleskin notebook is, and thanks to your comment I finally went and looked it up!
Sania: It really is a great practice, as you can see from the people who have commented so far. Give it a shot.
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