Transcription
Transcriber: Tanya Cushman
Reviewer: Peter van de Ven
When I was asked to talk about novel curiosity, my mind started to wander. And I remembered, as a child, we read "To Kill a Mockingbird" in English class. One day, my teacher asked me, "Christina, what did Boo Radley leave in the tree for the children?" I'd been daydreaming at the time, and I had no idea what she asked. So I leaned back, and my good friend Maz whispered, "Gum. He left gum." So I confidently proclaimed, "A gun. He left a gun." My teacher looked at me in disbelief, thinking perhaps I was mad, on a Shakespearean scale. If you're anything like me, that will make perfect sense to you. It's our little secret, our private world that nobody knows about.
So, I'm thinking about novel curiosity, and I thought I'd share with you the insatiable world of a daydreamer. At first, I tried to rein it in, but now I believe there's magic behind the magic.
And in today's world, I fear daydreaming has been drowned out by technology. We're on two to three different machines at once, our thought processes constantly being interrupted. The gravitational pull of these screens steals time away from reflection and zoning out.
Today, I want to convince you that daydreaming is a good thing, and you should let go of your inhibitions and allow your mind to wander freely – just not for the next six minutes. (Laughter)
So, let's start with the science behind daydreaming. Why and how do we daydream? Well, physiologically speaking, we're neither asleep nor awake during a daydream. But instead, in this peculiar in-between state, where our thoughts are lucid, but we're at serious risk of leaving our mouth hanging open like a surprised monkey. (Laughter)
So, what's actually going on? Well, neuroscientist Marcus Raichle recognized something in the brain that he calls the "default mode network." This is the mode where your mind starts to drift away. This is the point where your ideas and thoughts start to dance, and you're merely observing what's happening.
So how does that really work? Well, scientists recognize that this so-called "default mode network" actually increases in activity while you're daydreaming. It consists of parts of the brain involved in sensory activity, experiences. That's why when you daydream, it can evoke emotion or make you laugh. Despite its name, this default mode network is never actually on default, but rather active, giving way to a flood of ideas and thoughts.
So, what's actually going on? Well, it does so by generating its own stimulation. The technical name for this is "stimulus independent thought," a thought that's originated in something other than your immediate surroundings. Have you ever felt yourself drifting away without any real control? Here's why. The part of the brain that's involved in supervising, reflecting on what you're daydreaming is also part of this default mode network.
So, in other words, you don't have enough capacity to think about what you're thinking. Studies show that we spend 50% of our daily waking time daydreaming, using this time to explore inner experiences, thinking about something that might happen in the future. We use our default mode network to help us understand other people. It's engaged when we're being empathetic, and it assists us in making moral decisions.
The default mode network is actually found to be bigger in people who fantasize more. Creative thinkers have more gray matter, giving way to a vivid exchange of information and the sparking of ideas.
So now we understand the science behind daydreaming. Is it a good thing? Or is it just a cute way of saying you're unfocused, lazy, or even mad? Well, daydreamers have shaped our world for the better. Daydreamers allow information and knowledge to run free through their mind, and then it connects in a way they hadn't considered before.
Daydreaming is actually a strong indicator of a well-equipped brain. It's correlated with better working memory, higher levels of creativity, and more effective problem-solving. We've all heard the stories. Einstein is believed to have begun his theory of relativity while he daydreamed about running alongside a beam of light to the edge of the universe. Newton began his theory of gravity while he relaxed in his mother's garden and saw an apple fall from the tree.
And Greek philosopher Archimedes discovered the relationship between the rising water levels and the volume of his body in the submersion of water while he took a bath. (Laughter) Without these daydreamers, we may never have had some discoveries we've had today.
So then, what's the problem? Should we all just put down our electronics, play hooky, and spend the next decade sitting under trees and swimming in Greek baths? (Laughter) Well, the problem is daydreamers are eternal procrastinators. Daydreaming is like a little puppy begging to play. And although we like playtime, it means we find it hard to get things done.
We're also using all of our energy to focus on our thoughts rather than what's going on around us. So without harnessing the power of daydreaming, are we just losing time and opportunities?
Now let's address how to harness the power of daydreaming. I remember listening to John Cleese talking about his approach to creative writing when he wrote the famous Monty Python. He would go to a hotel in the country and check in with no check-out date. Then in the mornings, he'd go for long walks and allow himself to daydream. He would then write as freely and creatively as he liked. Not until late afternoon did he switch on his analytical mind, reviewing what he'd written and editing it into our beloved Monty Python.
I believe we can learn from John Cleese in his ability to allow the mind to wander freely before harnessing his creativity into something magical. Similarly, Thomas Jefferson once said, "The object of a walk is to allow the mind to relax. One must not even commit oneself to think while on a walk."
I know when I can't immediately find the solution to something, a walk, a run, a lie-down in the grass staring up at the clouds can somehow clear the head. The more I chase a thought, an idea, a solution, the further it hides in my mind. The more I allow this so-called "default mode network" to run freely, the easier it is to find a solution. Ideas are in flights all around our minds, just waiting for clearance to land.
So, allow your minds to wander freely. But without harnessing the power of daydreaming, we won't be the next Einstein. In order to address the problem of daydreaming just stealing time, you need to capture each crazy thought, funny anecdote, or potential world-changing idea in a notebook. Then, once your analytical mind is in gear, assess the validity of your ideas. Once you're happy, shout them from the rooftops, share them with friends, families, and colleagues, to allow your novel curiosity to take flight and potentially change the world.
Can someone sitting here today dream up the next world-changing invention or awe-inspiring novel? In the end, we need to learn to cherish our daydreams, to recognize them as powerful means of escape, and let them be our guide to unlock creativity, healthy madness, and the magic in our world.
So embrace, join, and above all, encourage our world's daydreamers. Thank you. (Applause)