Wallas's Four Stages of Creativity

Wallas's Four Stages of Creativity describe the typical process of developing new ideas. First, the **Preparation** stage involves gathering information and understanding the problem. Next, the **Incubation** stage is when you step back and let your mind subconsciously work on the problem without actively thinking about it. The **Illumination** stage is the "aha" moment when the idea or solution suddenly becomes clear. Finally, the **Verification** stage involves testing and refining the idea to ensure it works. Together, these stages explain how creative insights often develop through a combination of focused effort and subconscious processing.