Know the old saying, nature abhors a vacuum? 

Well, when it comes to creativity and ideas, it is not true. Nature truly loves a vacuum. Innovators create lots of them. Here is what I mean.

This morning, on my way to the bus stop, I noticed that my bus was already at the stop. As an addicted jogger, I chose to sprint to catch the bus. I ran about 30 yards and made it in time. But the driver refused to open the door and pulled out into traffic. Of course I was angry. In my mind, I began writing letters to the bus company, to the Ministry of Transportation and to the whole world.

And then, in a calmer moment, I had an insight. Wait one second, Maital. You are now on your way to jog along the beach. This is a time when ideas flood into your head. When you jog, there is a lovely vacuum  of peace and serenity in your mind. When that vacuum is created, all kinds of great ideas flood into your head. Most people have experienced this – in hikes, and in the shower in the morning. 

But when the vacuum is destroyed by negative thoughts – how to get even with the bus company – the creativity is ruined. I could easily have allowed this to happen this morning during my run. But at the bus stop, I made an instant decision simply to forget it – and to let the idea vacuum happen. 

It worked. The Evidence? This blog. 

My advice is to treat the space in your mind – what psychologists call cognitive resources – as your scarcest most valuable resource, even more than your financial resources. Treasure it, protect it, and above all, never never waste it. Simply, cancel all thinking that will not lead to positive results. 

This takes practice. You need to work at managing your schedule, to create opportunities for creativity vacuums to happen. And you need to practice focusing thoughts on constructive positive areas rather than negative ones. It is not easy. 

But once you master this, the results will surprise you. Try it!