low motivational states facilitate the search for new goals to pursue, whereas high motivational states focus us on completing a specific goal.

The long-standing view in psychology is that positive emotions are conducive to creativity because they broaden the mind, whereas negative emotions are detrimental to creativity because they narrow one’s focus.

It’s true that attentional focus does have important effects on creative thinking

However, emerging research suggests that the positive vs. negative emotions distinction may not be the most important contrast for understanding attentional focus.

research conducted by psychologist Eddie Harmon-Jones and his colleagues suggests that the critical variable influencing one’s scope of attention is not emotional valence (positive vs. negative emotions) but motivational intensity, or how strongly you feel compelled to either approach or avoid something.

Positive emotions low motivational intensity- e.g pleasant broadened the mind (measured by subjects making more holistic matches to a target stimulus)

high motivational intensity- e.g desire narrowed subjects’ scope of attention (subjects made more detail-oriented matches to a target stimulus)

negative emotions low motivational intensity- e.g sadness broadened attentional focus

high motivational intensity- e.g disgust a state of high motivational intensity for avoidance) narrowed focus.

If you want to keep an open mind and see the big picture, it’s probably best if you’re just in a pleasant (or even sad) mood.

If, however, you really need to buckle down and focus on making a new idea practical, high motivational intensity can be just the ticket.

Psychologists studying creativity have discovered that it is based on cognitive processes we all share. Creativity is not the result of some magic brain region that some people have and others don't.

creativity isn't limited to left-leaning designers, artists, and architects alone. Ideas and inspiration can (and should) come from everyone, regardless of their background.

Follow these steps and you'll find creativity can be achieved in just about any context.

Insights: defining the problem First, start by defining the problem at hand. Keep reframing the problem until it's clear to you and the others working on it. The problem and the path to resolution should be rooted in research and user-validation.

Saturation: getting in the mindset Immerse yourself in whatever information is available, then dig deeper for more.

Incubation: letting it all sink in "thinking aside", as you're essentially putting your brain on the shelf and stepping away. By turning off your mind this way, you're allowing the information to set in and that subsequent spark of creativity the necessary room to ignite.

Illumination: the notable 'aha!' moment We know this as the "Aha!" moment that hits when we least expect it. Whether in the shower or in line at the grocery store, it's the unforeseen moment during which that thousand watt light bulb suddenly turns on and the solution seems clear.

Verification: remove any biasOnce you've hooked that brilliant idea, it's time to reel it in and conduct a close-up examination.

Everything's so accelerated now.

I started doing martial arts when I was about 7, and I got my second degree black belt when I was 19. So I have my second degree black belt, but I've never used it, and I had to stop when I got 'Instant Star' because I couldn't train.

You'll have to hire people to expand your business. But it's a good discipline to really question if you need each and every hire.

When your name is out there like that, guys are going to want to see what you're about.

Awards shows are my greatest inducement to get back into shape.

There is nothing inevitable about crime and there is nothing inevitable about anti-social behaviour.

Homosexuality was invented by a straight world dealing with its own bisexuality.

Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between.

I don't think there's anything that will make me stop doing it. There may be a time when it's not available to anyone. You may have to come listen at my basement window... but I can't stop.

To be memorable and to have dramatic impact, informational detail must function actively within the dynamic of a story.

I like to do things that are classic.

One of the things I love about music is live performance.

Not much about California, on its own preferred terms, has encouraged its children to see themselves as connected to one another.

People are fed up with the career politicians who created this mess or failed to prevent it and neither was acceptable, and the only way we could change that was by sending a different type of person to Washington.

Sometimes you feel sad to be left out of a big debate.

If you eat a balanced diet you get all the vitamins and minerals you need and you don't need any supplement and overdosing can actually be more harmful.

I like very much Louis Vuitton. My wife loves it too.

There's no silver bullet when it comes to helping all children achieve. Great public schools are our best shot.

Either systems are in balance or they are falling apart. If people are acting in what appears to be a twisted way, I want to know the reason for that.

I don't know what the strategy will be in Washington. The reality is, is, I have got to go down there, as my mentor, as people like Bill Bradley have told me to do, get to know your colleagues on both sides of the aisle, recognize that they, too, beat with the same heart and the same type of blood.

I can't believe that I get to stand on the stages I stand on every summer, and get to sing the songs that I sing.

A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.

Just because we eat together does not mean we eat right: Domino's alone delivers a million pizzas on an average day.

Engineering is the professional and systematic application of science to the efficient utilization of natural resources to produce wealth.