Creativity Management: the Gap Between the Conscious and Subconscious Mind

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation and innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialization.

Complex problems, once identified, slip into the unconscious mind: the mind works on them at various cognitive levels.

Unconscious cognitive activity can be enhanced in many ways, for example, through engagement in rest and unrelated activities.

When solutions are arrived at subconsciously and transferred to the conscious mind, that is called insight, aha! Or eureka!

Thus, it is possible to increase the probability of insight, aha! Or eureka! We may not be able to tell when an idea will occur, what it will be and what form it may take, but we can increase the probability of it occurring.

This distinction between the conscious and subconscious mind is often, incorrectly, referred to as a "gap." Further, it is made intangible and "mysterious" by proponents such as Deepak Chopra, who say, "