The iconic Beatles composition, Yesterday, is attributed to what psychologists identify as the “hypnagogic state.” This transitional phase exists on the cusp of sleep and wakefulness, a liminal period where individuals hover in a semi-conscious condition, encountering vivid mental imagery and auditory phenomena.
Upon awakening one morning in early 1965, Paul McCartney became conscious of an intricate melody playing within his mind. He promptly rose from his slumber, approached his piano, and began to articulate the nascent tune on the keys.
Swiftly accompanying the melody with suitable harmonies, he crafted placeholder phrases—what musical creators term “holding phrases”—before the definitive lyrics were conceived.
Initially skeptical that such an exquisite melody could manifest spontaneously, McCartney harbored concerns about unconsciously appropriating an existing composition.
As he recounted, “For approximately a month, I consulted with numerous individuals in the music industry, inquiring if they had ever encountered it previously… My presumption was that if no one laid claim to it within a few weeks, I would then be at liberty to use it.” However, the melody was ultimately confirmed to be original.
Numerous significant breakthroughs and innovations have reportedly stemmed from the hypnagogic state. For instance, the physicist Niels Bohr’s seminal work, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize, is said to have been conceived while in a semi-conscious state.
As he drifted into sleep, he envisioned the atomic nucleus, with electrons orbiting it in a manner analogous to planets revolving around the Sun in our solar system. This vision purportedly led to his “discovery” of the atom’s structure.
The Optimal Creative Zone
Empirical evidence suggests that the hypnagogic state serves as a particularly fertile ground for creativity. For example, a study conducted in 2021 found that individuals experiencing the hypnagogic state were three times more prone to uncovering a concealed rule necessary to solve a mathematical puzzle.
Psychologists commonly link creativity with traits such as an openness to novel experiences and advanced cognitive flexibility. Furthermore, some researchers propose that creative output arises from the synergistic interaction between the brain’s cognitive control network—responsible for planning and problem-solving—and the default mode network, which is associated with introspective thought and imaginative wandering among others.
However, in my estimation, one of the most compelling theoretical frameworks regarding creativity is among the earliest, articulated by the pioneering British psychologist Frederic Myers in 1881. Myers posited that ideas and profound insights manifest as an emergent “uprising” from a subliminal consciousness.
From Myers’ perspective, our conscious awareness represents merely a fraction of our overall mental landscape, encompassing not only what Sigmund Freud termed the unconscious but also more expansive and elevated levels of consciousness. Ideas can mature within the unconscious realm for considerable durations before surfacing into conscious recognition.
This phenomenon explains the frequent sensation that creative concepts emerge from an external source, as if bestowed upon us, originating from beyond the perimeters of our conscious mind.
The Significance of Relaxation
The hypnagogic state proves to be exceptionally conducive to creativity because, as we transition between sleep and wakefulness, the conscious mind exhibits minimal activity. During this brief interval, our mental barriers become more porous, allowing an opportunity for creative insights and novel ideas to emanate from the subliminal mind.
More broadly, this explains the common association between creativity, relaxation, and periods of idleness. When we allow ourselves to relax, our conscious minds typically operate at a reduced pace. Often, during periods of intense activity, our minds are inundated with a barrage of thoughts, thereby leaving no void for creative inspiration to permeate.
Yet, perhaps of even greater consequence, meditative practices serve to quiet and refine the conscious mind, enhancing our receptivity to inspiration originating from beyond its confines. As I elucidate in my publication, The Leap, this underscores the profound link between spiritual enlightenment and creative capacity.
Cultivating the Hypnagogic State
Research indicates that approximately 80% of individuals have experienced the hypnagogic state, with about a quarter of the population encountering it on a regular basis. It appears to be slightly more prevalent among women than men.
This state is most commonly observed at the onset of sleep but can also occur upon waking or during the day if one experiences drowsiness and a temporary detachment from typical conscious awareness.
Is it possible to leverage the hypnagogic state to augment our creative output? It is certainly feasible to extend one’s presence within this state, a phenomenon many likely recognize from leisurely weekend mornings.
However, a significant challenge lies in the act of capturing the ephemeral ideas that arise. In our drowsy condition, the impetus to document our thoughts may diminish. The temptation to reassure oneself before succumbing fully to sleep, thinking, “This is such an excellent idea that it will undoubtedly remain ingrained in my memory,” is strong. Yet, upon awakening at a later juncture, the idea is often irrevocably lost.
Nevertheless, through dedicated mental discipline, there is no inherent reason why one cannot cultivate a practice of recording hypnagogic insights. The recommended approach involves keeping writing materials directly on the bedside table. Alternatively, for a more contemporary solution, place your smartphone beside your bed with the voice recording application readily accessible.
Indeed, this is a methodology that Paul McCartney has consistently employed. He even underwent training to practice writing in complete darkness for this specific purpose.
We can also employ a strategy known as “conscious napping” to facilitate idea generation.
Whenever the esteemed inventor Thomas Edison encountered an impasse in finding a solution or generating a novel concept, he would permit himself to drift into a state of semi-consciousness while holding a metal sphere. As he began to fall asleep, the sphere would inevitably drop to the floor, jolting him awake, at which point a fresh insight would frequently have materialized.
More broadly, it is advisable to embrace idleness as a means of fostering creativity. Refrain from viewing napping or moments of relaxation as unproductive expenditures of time. Far from being inconsequential, these periods may yield the most inspired concepts and profound realizations of our lives.
