Here’s a little riddle for ya:
– pine
– crab
– sauce
There’s a fourth word you can attach to each of these three words, which will lead to three other common words.
What is that fourth word?
While your brain works on that, I can tell you I riddled this riddle myself yesterday.
At first, nothing came to me in spite of trying. Then I gave up trying to guess the fourth word, much how the fox gave up trying to get the grapes, because they are unreachable and therefore must be sour.
But then, a few moments later, out of nowhere, without me seemingly doing anything and while I was busy thinking how this is a stupid riddle and how I don’t want to play, the fourth word popped up in my mind, covered by a thick syrup known as the feeling of insight.
The feeling of insight = that feeling of satisfaction, wonder, and possibility that happens when we emerge from the intellectual dark into light, when confusing and complex give way to simple and certain.
I read an article yesterday about the new neurology of insight. Basically, scientists have now pinned down the areas of the brain that light up when we come up with a solution to riddles like the one above, and we feel insight.
The names of those brain areas aren’t very interesting, unless you yourself are a neuroscientist.
What is interesting is something the article called the “insight-memory advantage.”
Basically, experiences of insight make people remember associated facts better than when they are simply told facts. This has practical applications, for example, if you are a coach or course creator. From the article:
“Applying insight-boosting strategies to teaching could lead to better learning outcomes for students. Insight seems to be a powerful and positive experience that generates accurate solutions, confidence in our answers and strong memories.””
So how do you generate a feeling of insight in your students?
I will leave you to ponder that on your own, for possibly obvious reasons.
One “insight-boosting strategy” is sure to pop up soon, if it hasn’t already.
Meanwhile, if you write emails about marketing or copywriting, there’s a non-obvious way to create insight, which I’ve personally used to great effect. To find out more about it: