Let your ideas ripen

Creativity relies on your being in a “flow state”—or being fully present and immersed in an activity. It’s the zone you want to be in during brainstorming and ideation, when you’re coming up with creative ideas.

It’s difficult to be truly immersed in a flow state if you are actively filtering your ideas (for what you think is “silly”, “feasible”, “innovative”, and so on). Judging concepts as they come into your mind will limit both the number and quality of ideas. So take that filter off and offer all of your concepts, from the wild to the ambitious to the seemingly boring. Those “out there” or “simple” ideas may end up being the basis of an exciting, effective, and equitable solution.

In other words: Don’t take ideas off the table before they have a chance to ripen. (And to answer your question, no, I have no shortage of food analogies. The well runs deep, my friends.)

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