Vishen Lakhiani explores how different brainwave states unlock creativity and innovation. Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla both used specific mental states to generate their best ideas, a pattern Lakhiani connects to modern neuroscience about how your brain works when you're most creative.
Chapters
So what do we know from a scientific basis? Right? We know that there are different brainwave states that we can measure in our head. Most of you right now are in the beta, or waking frequency. Roughly 10% of you statistically would be at the alpha, or restful state. You're kind of in this restful state. If you are frequent meditator, maybe it's also genetic. Maybe you were born with a brain that's less prone to stress. Maybe you, you just had a wonderful conversation with a friend. Maybe someone just gave you a hug. You go into this restful, peaceful state. That's alpha. That's the level of restfulness, but also creativity. Now you can slow down your brain further to theta. Theta is a dreamy state. When you're at theta, it's hard to keep your head straight. So when you're meditating and you start nodding off like that, you're dipping into theta. Theta is interesting. Theta is where ideas come from. Theta. Theta is the realm of psychic ability. But there is a state even beyond that, and that is delta. Delta is what you're in when you're asleep. Now, what do some of the greatest minds in the world say about these states? This is where it gets pretty interesting. Thomas Edison was known for his naps, right? So he created some 2,300 patents in the western world. One of the greatest inventors of all time. And Thomas Edison had this idea where he would get his best ideas from naps. So he would sleep with a metal ball in his hand. And as he drifted off into sleep, his hand would drop. The ball would drop, it would hit an iron plate below him, jolting him out of sleep. And in his mind, there would be a new idea. And Edison, what he was doing was really, he called it efficient napping, I guess. But what he was doing was doing dipping from beta to theta, Beta to theta. He was dipping in here to grab ideas and bring them out to the waking state. 2,300 patents. Now, was it just Edison? Well, the funny thing is Edison had a famous assistant, Nikola Tesla, who was born not far from here. In fact, 10 minutes away from where we are is a Tesla Park. Nikola Tesla was born a very short distance from here. This is what Nikola Tesla had to say about these states. He said, the mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. No big laboratory is needed in which to think. Originality thrives in seclusion, free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone. That is the secret of invention be alone. That is when ideas are born. This is why many of the earthly miracles have had their genesis in humble surroundings. When Tesla says be alone, he's talking about going into yourself, listening to that still voice within. Now, Tesla also said, instinct is something which transcends knowledge. We have undoubtedly certain finer fibers that enable us to perceive truth when logical deduction or any other willful effort of the brain is futile. Tesla did not have access to an electroencephalograph machine or EEG machine to measure brain waves. But this is what Tesla was doing. He was able to access these states. In fact, one of Tesla's most famous quotes is, my brain is only a receiver. In the universe, there is a core from which we obtain knowledge, strength and inspiration. Your brain is only a receiver.
