3 ms·

There is something magical about the subconscious. I find this works best if you truly understand the problem, but can't quite reach the answer. For me this hap

There is something magical about the subconscious. I find this works best if you truly understand the problem, but can't quite reach the answer. For me this happens mostly when playing a musical instrument. If you understand what you want to play and how to play it, but can't quite make it all come together, that's a sign for me to go to bed. Next day, there is almost always a noticeable improvement. Brain seems to do it's linking over night.

maroonblazer 5y ago
>Brain seems to do it's linking over night. Or in the space of less than an hour. Several years ago I dedicated myself to writing an album/CD's worth of songs. I'd recently got a dog and he needed to be walked regularly. So often was the case where I'd be stuck on where to take a particular song, hitting my head against a wall. Then, it would be time to walk the dog. While out for the stroll I'd come up with an idea. Sometimes that was the idea I'd run with and other times it would lead me to new, different ideas. I no longer have the dog but I keep taking the walks when I get stuck.
- tom_wilde 5y ago
  Can concur. This works for me when faced with some tricky code.
tambourine_man 5y ago
This has happened to me a few times and it feels like magic. You spend the whole day trying to play something on the piano and it just seems impossible. Muscle coordination is way beyond what you can perform. Frustrated, you go to bed. The next day, you can just play it, your hands suddenly know how to. Amazing.
- Buttons840 5y ago
  I'm reminded of what's said in the War of Art: "What does it tell us about the architecture of our psyches that, without our exerting effort or even thinking about it, some voice in our head pipes up to counsel us (and counsel us wisely) on how to do our work and live our lives? Whose voice is it? What software is grinding away, scanning gigabytes, while we, our mainstream selves, are otherwise occupied?" --Steven Pressfield
- egman_ekki 5y ago
  ...same with breast saber :)

maroonblazer 5y ago

>Brain seems to do it's linking over night. Or in the space of less than an hour. Several years ago I dedicated myself to writing an album/CD's worth of songs. I'd recently got a dog and he needed to be walked regularly. So often was the case where I'd be stuck on where to take a particular song, hitting my head against a wall. Then, it would be time to walk the dog. While out for the stroll I'd come up with an idea. Sometimes that was the idea I'd run with and other times it would lead me to new, different ideas. I no longer have the dog but I keep taking the walks when I get stuck.

tom_wilde 5y ago
Can concur. This works for me when faced with some tricky code.

tambourine_man 5y ago

This has happened to me a few times and it feels like magic. You spend the whole day trying to play something on the piano and it just seems impossible. Muscle coordination is way beyond what you can perform. Frustrated, you go to bed. The next day, you can just play it, your hands suddenly know how to. Amazing.

Buttons840 5y ago
I'm reminded of what's said in the War of Art: "What does it tell us about the architecture of our psyches that, without our exerting effort or even thinking about it, some voice in our head pipes up to counsel us (and counsel us wisely) on how to do our work and live our lives? Whose voice is it? What software is grinding away, scanning gigabytes, while we, our mainstream selves, are otherwise occupied?" --Steven Pressfield
egman_ekki 5y ago
...same with breast saber :)