Salvador Dalí
What’s common to Einstein, Dali, and Aristotle? Aside from creativity, all three used a key to unlock their creative thoughts and inspiration. But, what was this key and how did it function?
The Key Method
It is said that the famous artist, Salvador Dali, used a key to gain all his inspiration. Strange, isn’t it? Turns out, it’s actually true. Dali would sit upright on a chair and place a plate, upside down, on the floor. Sitting calmly, he would then hold a key between his fingers and allow himself to take a nap- a powerful one that would replenish his lost energy and rekindle creativity.
The moment Dali would enter a state of sleep, the key would drop from his hands and clang the plate, waking Dali. Sleep comprises of multiple stages, each of which sees the body in different levels of activity and the mind in varying stages of thought. Scientists today believe that Dali was actually taking the advantage of what is called “hypnogogic nap”. No, we’re not joking. There actually is such a term, which refers to a state of sleep when the mind, before reaching the deeper stages of sleep, unlocks the power of creative thoughts, which flow freely.
Dali’s Method should be seen in the manner of a powerful short nap to rejuvenate your mind and body and should not be a substitute for a full night’s rest for 8 hours.
Albert Einstein
Unlock the Mind
This method of sleep without actually sleeping is for deep relaxation and rekindles lost creativity. It’s like unlocking the mind, really. The nap is short, albeit a powerful one. The power nap improves productivity and restores energy. You don’t need to set an alarm. Just trust the key to wake you up.
This perfectly-timed nap has been used time and again by some of the greatest thinkers. The less-than-a-minute nap has been mentioned in Dali’s ‘50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship’. The great artist would sit back on his Spanish-style bony armchair and let go, with the key remaining in his hand.
Einstein, Aristotle, and Dali- all knew how a tiny amount of sleep without entry into the deep sleep zone works wonders on the mind.
