How do you moodle?

It seems strangely counter-intuitive that slowing down can often help you move forward faster, but it's true. Think of when you've been running full speed on something and found yourself stuck, only to get inspiration or an answer by stepping away and doing nothing.

I ran across an article that has a great term for letting the mind amble where it will - moodling. From the article:

Brenda Ueland wrote the book "If You Want to Write: A Book About Art, Independence and Spirit" in the 1930s. The term "moodling" was coined when she wrote, "So you see, imagination needs moodling-long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering." Sounds lovely doesn't it?

But how do we go about moodling? Or more to the point, how do we set up the circumstances that make it possible? Brenda Ueland's quote implies we can't force inspiration. One way to make room in our minds so that ideas can flow is to be casually involved in some sort of pastime. The solution may be as simple as sitting in the sun watching the grass grow. I find moodling is most likely to occur when I am unhurriedly engaged in a repetitive activity.

For me, the best way tends to be something active, but not too active. A stroll through the woods, or poking around on the beach to see what I find.

How about you? How do you moodle?

--

Curt Rosengren

Passion Catalyst  ^SM

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Comments

[Huw]

Some kind of activity helps me. I love moodling while spending time in my garden, usually doing something not too mentally demanding. In fact I've noticed that any visible neglect in my garden often reflects a kind of creative, freedom or moodling neglect of my spirit.

I heard someone at a seminar once say that someone had looked into this sort of thing and found an association with moving water. Walks by the sea or river for example. Both are essential parts of my life too. Any thoughts?

[Ed]

When the weather is nice, I like to go for a walk. I've learned that in order to be productive, I need to bring a notepad and a pen. When the ideas come I have to find a shady tree to sit under or a park bench and get busy writing or else the ideas escape me like memories of dreams.

I get the same or better inspiration when I run, but these creative thoughts are way more transient. The world's greatest poetry (2-3 lines)and illuminating insights into life occur in my mind on these runs. They never make it to paper because - I'm running and when I do try to write what I experienced in my mind it never comes across like it did on the run.

So, walking - for me - is a lower level of the moodling principle that I experience while running. It helps me to get the creative juices flowing and be able to get the products on paper.

This happens when I juggle too.

[maria]

Great word! Let's see ... walking is definitely a good catalyst for moodling. So is cooking. I also moodle a lot by looking through/reading magazines -- I get lots of them. A blurb, link or image will spark an idea for something I'm working on and I'm off and running.

I also find journaling very good for moodling. As I write, usually no more than 20 minutes or so, I find that once I get beyond the 'braindump' or my top level of thinking on an issue, some new and useful ideas and inklings will rise to the surface.

Finally, I moodle in my sleep. Well ... not really sleep, but when I wake up in the middle of the night and don't want to disturb my significant other, John. I find that being awake from 2 or 3 a.m. til 5 a lot of nights, lying still in bed, invites all sorts of creative ideas that I would never think of in the daylight -- and some aren't half bad! This is when I 'solve' most of my creative challenges ... except how to get a good night's sleep, for some reason.

[Carry]

It took me a while to realize why I like hiking and cycling by myself so much. That's when I meditate, or to use Brenda's word, moodle.

I'm surprised no one's admitted to moodling in the shower yet. Who hasn't had a great idea while sudsing the shampoo? Maybe it's the act of rubbing your head that gets the thoughts going.

[Christopher Bailey]

Carry, I moodle all the time in the shower. I think I need to invest in a waterproof whiteboard. However, my ideas tend to come when I'm in a disadvantageous spot to write them down. So, I imagine if I did get that whiteboard, that would be the end of those brilliant ideas.

I also find myself moodling while I drive. Tough to write stuff down during the morning DC bumper-to-bumper commute so it's a good idea to have a voice recorder handy.

[Gail Nickel-Kailing]

Curt,
Loved your "moodling" comments. I find my mind takes some very interesting paths when I knit. It's mostly mindless, certainly repitious, and helps me really focus my breathing. Almost like meditation.
Gail

[Lori]

moodle- i love it!
Exactly what I did today and in fact it's how i found my way here. Exploration, long walks and silly time with the kids. Nothing happens fast but distruction! Slowing down is the way to go.