Did you know that author Mary Shelley was only 19 when she wrote Frankenstein?

Barely old enough to see the film herself, but hats off to Mary for writing such a monster of a novel at such a young age.

Thing is though, she didn’t “write” Frankenstein the way you’d expect. In fact, the whole idea for the story came to Mary in a dream. She wasn’t trying to pen the next gothic smash-hit bestseller. If anything, the book wrote itself.

Turns out Mary Shelley is in good company.

Paul McCartney woke up one morning with the "Yesterday" tune in his head (so complete that he thought he must've heard the tune somewhere else). The Theory of Relativity came to the frizzy-haired brainbox Albert Einstein while he was daydreaming. Isaac Newton discovered gravity while sipping cider under an apple tree. And Archimedes had his famous "Eureka!" moment in the tub while playing with his rubber duck. 

Which prompts the question…

Why do great ideas arrive when we're not looking for them?

Actually, I think I might know why.

Most of us approach problems like we're trying to crack a safe. We press our ears against the metal, listen for clicks, try different combos and work methodically (then more frantically) until we eventually hear a satisfying CLUNK.

But what if we're trying to solve problems all wrong? 

What if our minds aren't like safes at all, but more like gardens?

You can't force a flower to grow by yanking its stem. But you can create the conditions for growth (good soil, lots of water, plenty of sunlight), then let nature do its thing.

Well, maybe our best thinking works the same way.

Instead of trying to crack our problems open, maybe we just need to create the conditions for solutions to emerge naturally.

That might sound like airy-fairy twaddle about positive thinking or manifesting success.

But it’s really about seeing we have two different kinds of intelligence up our sleeve.

There's the usual kind. The scrunchy-face, analytical thinking that we've all been taught to rely on.

But there's something else too. A deeper intelligence that does its best work when we stop trying to force it. It shows up with brilliant ideas while we're walking the dog, soaking in the tub or sipping Magners under an apple tree.

It’s like having a wise old sage living in your head, ready to offer you perfect advice. So long as you stop actively pursuing your thoughts and let them come to you instead.

Best of all?

This isn't some special gift that only a lucky few are born with.

Everyone has access to this wisdom. It's built into us and part of the way we're all wired.

The only difference between those who use it and those who don't is knowing it's there and trusting it enough to listen.

Have you ever had a similar Eureka moment?

Hit reply and let me know if so. I’d love to hear.

To fulfilment,

Tom