There have been many stimuli identified, by creative people themselves, which help precipitate their bouts of creativity. In addition to those listed above, such things as fatigue and sleeplessness have been mentioned. However, most are idiosyncratic and only work for that specific individual. Creativity also appears to be enhanced by isolation and sensory deprivation.¹⁰

In their book Higher Creativity: Liberating the Unconscious for Breakthrough Insights, Willis Harman and Howard Rheingold argue that creativity can be cultivated. They advance various techniques for reaching into the unconscious, which they view as a great idea processor, with the end result of stimulating creativity. They believe that creativity may be triggered in various ways, including intuitive flashes, intense emotional responses, chance happenings and self-induced drug states.¹¹

According to Harman, creativity can be developed into a skill that most can learn over time through effort and practice. Since imagery is perceived to be the language of the unconscious, then one must learn to increase one's ability to increase mental imagery, and he discusses ways this can be accomplished.

He also states that, "When we all learn the tricks of the creativity trade that we formerly reserved for geniuses, the masterpiece of our collective endeavors and breakthroughs could be not a painting or a theorem, but a new way of life.".¹²

According to Harman, "All we have to do is to consciously program the unconscious with the correct input, and, like a mathematical formula, input plus processing time will equal output.... [T]he more precisely you can state any problem, the more swiftly and accurately your unconscious idea processor can churn out the solution.".¹³

Harman also discusses ways to achieve breakthrough experiences by utilizing a combination of visual imagery, reprogramming the unconscious mind with positive affirmations, alert relaxation, attention focusing, and lucid dreaming.¹⁴

Willis Harman has stated, and I very much agree, "It is human unconscious programming that has to be changed, which is totally feasible. What would be the motivation for people to undertake this self-programming? The answer is: Because it leads to personal breakthroughs, to feeling more self-fulfillment, to an exhilarating life, and to a viable global future. This is not theoretical or speculative. Survey research and a vast assortment of less formal indicators make it clear that there is a growing network of individuals who have already started.".¹⁵

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