Remember the story of Archimedes who ran out dripping wet shouting “Eureka!” “Eureka!” because he got a brilliant idea in the bathroom or the great poet Samuel Coleridge who dreamt his poem Kubla Khan while he was sleeping?

Sometimes great ideas strike us when we least expect it or when we are pleasantly relaxed with nothing to think about.

As human beings, we are constantly thinking and analysing. We are constantly memorising, studying, discussing, reviewing or learning.

We have forgotten the power of relaxation. As a society, focussed on knowing more and more in less and less time, we cramp as much information as we can into our minds till we feel brain dead.

This also leads to constant worry, about the past, present and the future. Our minds move around in tired circles because we have lost the knack of switching off.

Although this thinking, analysing mind of yours is important to you, you cannot be permanently stuck in this mode of thinking especially when it comes to the creative aspect of your life.

You cannot think out a piece of music, think out a book, or think out a relationship. You need to be in a more relaxed frame of mind when you are attempting to do something creative.

Some things or some ideas come more easily when you are relaxed or when you let go. Flogging your brains to solve problems will create greater problems. It will end up removing the joy from your life.

Response to challenge

'Stillness runs deep'. Learn to switch off and wait for the ideas to come floating to you.

Keep with the flow instead of pushing forward. You never know what brilliant brainwaves can strike you when you least expect.

After all, if Newton, the great scientist had not relaxed under the apple tree, his theories would have never reached the world.

So, give your brains a break. Allow the answers to surface by themselves instead of struggling with problems.

Allow your inner resources to be accessed. You never know what wise solutions it can come up with.

This week, allow your brains to relax.

To garner maximum enjoyment from life, learn to use both your analytical mind and your relaxed mind.

The trick is to know when to use what. That only you can answer.