Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind.

You know that random idea that pops in your head while you’re brushing your teeth? The one you instantly dismiss as nonsense? Yeah, that one might just be your inner genius trying to get a word in before your inner critic shuts it down.

Let’s Talk About That Unfiltered Mind of Yours

Let’s not pretend. We’ve all had that split-second flash of a thought that made us pause—right before we smothered it under a blanket of logic, emails, or whatever podcast we’re using to avoid our own minds.You know the type:

“What if I quit my job and opened a plant-based strip club-slash-café in Tulum?” Or maybe just, “I wonder if my boss is actually a lizard in disguise?”

The point is—those little blips? Those are brain burps. They’re your mind clearing its throat before it says something wild, brilliant, and completely unexpected.

And guess what? That untamed impulse? That raw, unedited brainwave? It might be the very thing that sets you apart in a world addicted to playing it safe.

We’ve Been Taught to Filter. But At What Cost?

From the moment we start school, we’re trained to raise our hands only when we’re sure we’re right. We learn to pause before speaking, revise before sharing, and make sure our opinions come with sources, citations, and a PowerPoint.

And while editing your thoughts has its place (please do not tell your coworker their cologne smells like midlife crisis and regret), overediting your inner dialogue is how we end up shrinking our genius down to what’s digestible.

Spoiler alert: Genius isn’t always digestible. Sometimes it’s messy. And that’s okay.

The Weirdest Ideas Start the Brightest Fires

Let’s rewind history a bit.

Do you really think Beyoncé mapped out “Lemonade” with a five-year business plan before the first lyric came?

You think Octavia Butler plotted every world of her sci-fi brilliance before letting her imagination run wild?

Nah. They followed the spark. The random. The emotional. The “what if?”

And it’s not just artists.

Steve Jobs? Oprah? Issa Rae? The list of powerhouses who followed their first thought instead of ignoring it reads like a hall of fame of people who trusted their inner compass—even when it pointed straight into the unknown.

Why Your Brain Burps Deserve a Notebook

Most of your best ideas aren’t born in a brainstorming meeting. They show up when you’re in the shower, half-asleep, or stuck in traffic behind a dude blasting Nickelback.

Those first thoughts are raw data from your inner world. They’re unpolished, loud, hilarious, sometimes offensive, often insightful—and always worth noticing.

So here’s your challenge:

Stop dismissing them. Start recording them.

Voice notes, napkins, a Notes app folder labeled “brain chaos”—doesn’t matter.

Capture the absurd. Revisit it later. Watch the dots connect.

[The 6 best note-taking apps in 2025]

The Brainstorming Rule We All Forget

Let me take you back to any brainstorm you’ve ever been in.

First rule? “There are no bad ideas.

”Second rule? Everyone breaks the first rule in five minutes flat.

Why? Because we’re wired to judge, filter, and correct. But your first thought isn’t asking for a dissertation. It’s asking to be heard. You never know which chaotic little idea is going to spark your next breakthrough.

That marketing concept. That podcast name. That one-liner that made your friend do a spit take at brunch?

It started as a brain burp.

But Wait, Aren’t Some Thoughts Just…Nonsense?

Sure. Not every first thought is a masterpiece.

Sometimes your brain blurts out, “I should text my ex.”

No. You shouldn’t. Let that one expire in the drafts.

But even those impulsive ideas are giving you information—about what you miss, what you’re bored with, or what you’re really craving (attention? clarity? carbs?).

This isn’t about acting on everything. It’s about acknowledging your inner dialogue, even the unhinged parts. Because under the chaos, there’s wisdom. And maybe a killer podcast concept too.

Real-Life Power Move: Follow the First Thought

Let’s say you’re facing something tough:

• You’re stuck at work.
• You’re emotionally worn out.
• You’re hitting a creative wall.

Ask yourself: “What’s the first thought that comes up when I think about this?”

It might be ridiculous. It might be dark. It might be wildly unhelpful.

But it’s yours. And it’s a start.Your job isn’t to judge it. Your job is to listen. Track the thought. Pull the thread. Let it unravel something deeper.

The Case for Letting Yourself Be Weird—Out Loud

Here’s your permission slip: You don’t need to be polished all the time.

In fact, the more you let your unfiltered brilliance out into the world—on the page, in convos, in your art, your side hustle, your life—the more magnetic you become.

People can tell when you’re speaking from the script. They feel it when you’re riffing from the gut. And that gut? It’s got bars.

Embrace the Burp

Your mind is wild. Beautifully chaotic. Surprisingly smart.Those messy little moments when you think, “This is stupid, but…”—yeah, that’s the money. That’s the starting line.

Write it down. Say it out loud. Build something with it.

Because somewhere in the randomness, there’s a TED Talk, a business, a novel, or just the exact perspective shift you didn’t know you needed.

Let your brain burp. Then let it blow your damn mind.

Links/References:

[The Science of Intuition: Medical Intuition Meets Neuroscience Science]

[Why Olivia Rodrigo Swears By Writing “Morning Pages”]

[Mastering Your Intuition: The Science of Better]