The Power of Creativity \(Book 1\): Learning How to Build Lasting Habits, Face Your Fears and Change Your Life pdfdrive com

An Artist’s Slumber
In  2008,  a  British  radio  presenter  asked  Paul  McCartney  (b.  1942)  to  name  his
favourite Beatles song. McCartney answered that he loves “Yesterday”, which he
recorded in 1965.
One  of  mine?  If  I  had  to  answer  one  song,  it  would  have  to  be
‘Yesterday’  because  it  came  to  me  in  a  dream  and  because  3,000
people are supposed to have recorded it.
That  was  entirely  magical  –  I  have  no  idea  how  I  wrote  that.  I
just woke up one morning and it was in my head. I didn’t believe it
for about two weeks.”
Oh to sit around on the couch or lie in bed, waiting for a divine moment of
inspiration  to  strike.  Then  to  rush  downstairs,  open  a  notebook  and  bash  out
10,000  words  of  great  prose  that  sets  the  world  on  fire  or,  as  in  McCartney’s
case, scratch out a hit record that becomes the most covered song of all time.
McCartney  isn’t  the  first  creative  master  to  turn  towards  dreams  for
inspiration.
Spanish  surrealist  painter  Salvador  Dali  (1904-1989)  –  he  of  the  narrow,
upright moustache – slept as deeply and as soundly as possible before working
on his big ideas.

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Dali  depended  on  “physical  and  psychic  calm”  that  a  deep,  restful  night’s
sleep brought before approaching the white, virgin canvas and beginning a new
pictorial work.
He  even  went  as  far  as  to  influence  his  dreams  by  having  a  valet  pour
fragrances  on  his  pillow  before  waking,  having  melodies  play  quietly  in  the
background as he slept and applying intense light to his pupils so he could dream
in colours.
In  his  book,  50  Secrets  of  Magic  Craftsmanship,  Dali  wrote  to  aspiring
painters:
..in undertaking an important pictorial work which you are anxious
to  bring  to  a  successful  completion  and  on  which  your  heart  is