I like to consider thinking as being on a sliding scale of externally focused and internally focused thinking. External thinking deals primarily with our surroundings and is involved more in logic, analysis, evaluation, calculation, spatial awareness and mostly unemotional, rational thinking processes.
For example, if you plan to cross a road you would assess what traffic is on the road, how faraway it is, how fast it is travelling and how quickly and safely you can move to cross the road. Similiarly, if you were surfing, or playing football or trying to catch a bus, your thinking would be primarily external logical and analytical.
On the other hand if you were daydreaming or playing a musical instrument or listening to music or trying to write, you might be unaware of what is happening around you as you focus internally. You might have your eyes open but be unaware of what they are seeing, someone might speak to you and you don’t hear them. This thinking is more associated with music, intuition, creativity, non linear and emotional thinking. Eventually at the end of this spectrum you fall asleep.
Some people such as artists, musicians, writers live mostly with internally focused, creative thinking processes.
Others are more logical, mathematical and analytical and think mostly at the other end of the spectrum. Everyone can slide from one to the other but people are often more comfortable where they are more naturally gifted.
Creative thinking lies in that space of brain function just before sleep, where ideas can suddenly pop into our heads.
Interestingly, Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb among one thousand other inventions, which he patented, was well aware of this creative space.
He used to go to sleep with a steel ball in each hand so that when he dozed, the balls would fall and the noise would waken him. He would then immediately write down whatever he was thinking about at he time, making sure that he didn’t forget some wonderful ideas.
You can practice this sliding scale of awareness by reading the article in this blog (The Spectrum of Awareness).
In addition you can practise getting into the creative thinking space by listening to any of the audios on this website. They are designed to facilitate a smooth passage into sleep and take you to that creative thinking process on the way. Remember to have a means of recording your ideas so you remember them.