Success Advice
How to Find Creative Solutions by Emptying Your Mind

I’ve always been fascinated by how creative artists describe their process. Inevitably, they talk about being in a state of open mind where the download of core creativity can happen. I know painters who sit in front of a blank canvas staring at it and guitarists who will sit looking at the ocean, guitar at their side, waiting for an idea to appear.
Actor and writer Cody Fern says that for him, setting the state to be receptive to new creative ideas looks like “silence and clearing, getting really quiet, saving the reserves of energy.” He doesn’t let himself think too much about how he might approach his work, which would distract him from what his non-rational brain is communicating to him.
James Taylor said in a 2015 Hemispheres magazine interview, “Given enough empty time, the songs show up. I’ve often said that it’s an unconscious and mysterious process, my type of songwriting. You really are just waiting to hear it, and you have to be in a place where you can receive the song, more than generate it. There’s just something about songwriting. It’s like a musical puzzle or a math problem. When you solve it, it’s like you’re being surprise by your own subconscious in a way. That’s an unparalleled delight.”
Robbie Robertson of the Band said in the documentary Once We Were Brothers, “The creative process is a process catching you off guard. You write about what you know, where you have been, who you knew and know… Creativity comes from the womb of emptiness.”
“Curiosity about life in all aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.”- Leo Burnett
What are you surrendering to when you experience a downflow of core creativity? Many people believe that ideas can come from what Carl Jung called the collective unconscious. It’s here that the archetypes of stories, themes, and characters are said to reside, seeping into our conscious and unconscious and influencing our perceptions about ourselves and our lives. You can tap into your personal unconscious, but some would say that you can also access what’s in the collective unconscious, too.
Mindfulness meditation — whether it’s sitting silently and clearing the mind, walking in nature, or shifting into “absorption” whereby you simply sit still and observe — can take you out of overthinking and into the mind state of receptivity. The stillness and focus involved in meditation alters your brainwaves, and therefore, your mind state. Distraction-free time can lead you to an open mind as you remain present in the moment.
Both core creativity and intuitive wisdom and knowledge can be accessed in an open mind state — not because you have an open mind, or are trying to be open minded, but because you’re in a state of pure receptivity that evolves naturally after given yourself over to emptiness.
Practice this “No-Self” Meditation to let go of your ego and become curious, receptive, and free to access your core creativity:
- Begin by quieting your thoughts. Allow yourself to become receptive to something beyond the distracting chatter of your generating mind. Notice what you’re experiencing without generating thoughts. If thoughts do arise, let them float away like clouds. After your string of distracting thoughts has slowed or even stopped, remain present in a feeling of receptivity and absorption for at least a minute or two.
- Allow yourself to experience “no self.” Here, your identity drops away as you simply experience being present. Let yourself disappear, allowing all fixed and limited notions of who you are or how your creative project should unfold fall away. Let thoughts arise, exist, and fade away without intervening to hold onto them. You’ll find yourself not in your ego mind, fixated on what you think you know, but instead feeling curious and open to receiving and discovering.
- Enter the pristine emptiness. Recognize that you have entered The Void. Remain here even if it’s somewhat uncomfortable because you’ll soon notice that this void is actually a fertile one, revealing itself to be filled with ideas, images, pictures, colors, textures, stillness, and possibility. Allow yourself to absorb and take in whatever you need, letting it download into you while knowing you can work with this energy of possibility to make it manifest into form. As you do, you’re downloading core creativity. Be fully present in this experience, observing it, noting what you’re feeling, understanding, hearing, and seeing in your mind’s eye.
When you’re ready, end the meditation. You may want to write down any impressions, ideas, or insights that came to you.
Use the No-Self Meditation to partake in a “clear the desk” experience that allows you to enhance your intuitive abilities and access core creativity.
Success Advice
People-First Leadership: 10 Ways Modern Leaders Drive Growth
The way people lead, work, and grow within companies has changed

Workplaces today are not the same as they were a few years ago. The way people lead, work, and grow within companies has changed. The leaders driving these changes are not just focused on tasks. They are thinking ahead and building better environments for everyone. These professionals understand that success now means supporting people, not just hitting targets. (more…)
Success Advice
6 Essential Tips for Business Travelers in 2025
Prioritizing safety, health, and security ensures a smoother and more productive travel experience.

Closing that slippery deal or overseeing a complex operation often requires a delicate personal touch, even if that means traveling halfway around the globe. There’s always a degree of risk involved. (more…)
Success Advice
How to Hire Top Talent and Create a Culture They’ll Never Want to Leave
The best leaders clarify complex situations, generate positive energy, and deliver results.

Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand how big tech companies prioritize hiring the best talent and how this focus drives business success (more…)
Success Advice
Is Leading Exhausting? This Strategy Will Change Your Business
The future of leadership isn’t about doing more, it’s about leading differently

Managing a team often feels like a constant battle. You’re buried in meetings, overwhelmed by emails, and always fighting fires. Just when you think you’ve got a grip on things, new demands, shifting priorities, and AI-driven changes throw everything into disarray. Finding time to think strategically seems impossible, let alone feeling in control of your work. (more…)
-
Success Advice4 weeks ago
The Real Secret Behind the Law of Attraction And How to Use It Effectively
-
Entrepreneurs4 weeks ago
Starting a Business Was the Most Spiritual Thing I’ve Ever Done
-
Life3 weeks ago
The Surprising Mental Health Tool You Probably Haven’t Tried
-
Success Advice3 weeks ago
Is Leading Exhausting? This Strategy Will Change Your Business
-
Success Advice2 weeks ago
How to Hire Top Talent and Create a Culture They’ll Never Want to Leave
-
Life3 weeks ago
Imposter Syndrome Is Rooted in Your Past But Here’s How You Can Rewire It
-
Entrepreneurs2 weeks ago
How Workplace Toxins Are Quietly Hurting Employee Performance
-
Entrepreneurs1 week ago
Why Most Successful Entrepreneurs Feel Like Imposters and How to Fix It