I’m a writer – among many other things. Maybe better said, I’m a man of words. Words seem to bubble up from within conversation, from sitting at my computer, from within what happens when I sit in my office with a client. From the page of a book resting in my lap.
Late in the evening, I’m writing to a friend, or writing this monthly Newsletter. Or responding to an email. Sorting out what’s going on in my head – thought wrestling itself out of somewhere, awaiting the right words that emerge from somewhere deep within – words that I can then type, or write, or scribble in a margin. I’ve learned recently that I can speak the words out loud (it’s called dictation), and they appear on the screen in front of me. It’s a lot of mental work, but I’m often most content or at peace with myself when I’m writing; it’s a high form of creativity. Maybe it’s my hobby.
Yet for me it’s a slow process – much more time spent seeking the right words than actually writing them. But then I recall years ago an English professor describing a particular French novelist we were reading (his name now long forgotten), who would take an entire day to compose just a single page of his work.
Then
Then, it’s finally time to close the computer, and climb the stairs to my bedroom. But all at once, when I’m “half way up the stairs,” a unique insight or new idea pops into my head, and I’ll turn around, go back to open my computer, and write some more. I recall a few occasions, when I’ve done this at least three times before reaching the top of the stairs.
There are some times when it (the inspiration) waits till I’m in my bedroom – where I’ll at least stop and write the new idea in a note, so I’ll remember it in the morning. I’ve long ago learned to catch the idea at the moment and write it, not trust my memory to hold it otherwise.
Sometimes I’ll note the same thing in my office. After I’ve seen a client, after I’ve said goodbye, and I’m walking down the hall to my back room, or to the bathroom, and all at once realize, “so that’s what was happening!” And I’ll quickly make a note for the record.
I’ll sometimes even take a quick bathroom break from our session, during which I’ll reach a breakthrough moment of realization. (Hallways can be magical, so can be bathrooms.)
Getting off the track
I recently read some research, asking senior executives where they got their best ideas. Three top responses were 1) on vacation, 2) in the shower, and 3) traveling to and from work. Another study yielded 1) taking a shower, and 2) walking in the woods.
Sometimes these are called “Eureka moments.” A brand new idea emerges, which can change everything.
At times I’ll say to a client, “stop thinking …. just tell me.”
Why is this? Knowledge and Wisdom
It’s as if we have two different sources of intelligence: information and inspiration.
1) Our educational structures often teaches us packages of facts, information. We are taught to memorize them, and feed their logic back on exams, the ultimate goal being packages of knowledge leading to things called certificates or degrees – knowledge of stuff. Up till now, we’ve been promised that we can make a living based on this stuff. This, however, is the ‘stuff’ AI is now taking over. And many are terrified.
2) The second source of intelligence is what I call wisdom.
Classically (or traditionally), the first half of life has been dedicated to obtaining knowledge, and the second half of life has been the reservoir of wisdom – that which often begins to emerge, if at all, around the age of 50. (Which, I’ve long noticed is a common age of those who first walk in my office door.)
AI (the demon king of our current intellectual age) is “artificial intelligence.” Knowledge of stuff. The stuff of encyclopedias (remember them?)
Wisdom, is more “human intelligence.” An intelligence that emerges from deep within the self. From our humanity. The word inspiration itself emerges from the root “spirit.”
I have a client who is a high school principal, and we’ve been exploring this distinction. In her case, and I think this is a useful distinction, her superintendent is much more the knowledge master, while she is the humanity master. Those skills are separate, and in her case (fortunately) mutually well-balanced. And High School education may be a primary medium (age) for an introductory exploration of this territory.
I shared my fantasy of eventually developing a class perhaps called “What does AI miss here?” My immediate inspired thought was the class would end up paying attention to a lot of the great poets. Robin Williams, we miss you!
Innate intelligence
There’s a new psychology that affirms we are each born with a natural (innate) wisdom. It’s like that which shows up “half-way up the stairs.” Some people call it “gut knowledge.” (I’ve recently read that some brain tissue also exists farther down the human body.) Young children have it – you can see it naturally in them up till about age four – before culturally approved knowledge begins to take over.
It’s often this innate intelligence which shows/pops up when we (momentarily) get “off the track.” And my argument in this Newsletter is to catch and trust those moments and their wisdom.
A long time ago somebody described the difference between prose and poetry, as follows: With prose, the meaning and message is in the words themselves. In poetry, the meaning is found more within the spaces between the words. This has long made sense to me. However, when I’ve shared this, I’m surprised how many learned people disagree with me (even without a useful alternative insight).
Also we don’t have to wait till we’re 50 to begin this transition (actually it’s a major transformation). We’re at a point in history when we need more of it now.
Also it fascinates me that we‘re each actually born with it. (That’s why it’s called innate wisdom.) It doesn’t have to be taught, only liberated.
Pay Attention
NB: And, if we get to the point where we can’t climb stairs anymore, (I may be getting to that age), AI will easily want to step in to develop more technology to assist us. Yay?
Bill McDonald
Sept 7, 2026