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THIS WEEK
Creativity on Cue
ALSO IN THIS EDITION
Imagine a large government office, filled with grey cubicles that make a Dilbert cartoon look like Nirvana. Inside the centre of the maze of cubicles, is a large windowless meeting room, remarkable in its resemblance to a rather large padded cell. The cubicle dwellers live in clothes of grey, navy and black – which seem to match their moods. This was my twilight world for many many years.
One late afternoon, I and all the other cubicle dwellers were summoned to the central cell. The manager stood up and said: "I've called you here because I need solutions to the XYZ problem. We have 30 minutes. Ideas anyone ..." and then stood at the whiteboard with pen poised.
Feet were shuffled. Eye contact was avoided. Finally, a half-hearted voice made a suggestion. The suggestion was met with a rapid chorus of relieved supporters, all thinking that if they made it sound like they agreed to the idea, they could get the heck out of there, and get back to their "real" work.
Why do we feel that creativity is like a computer program where you click a button and get a instant response? Most people can't be creative on cue (which is why most comedians are not funny if you meet them in person). Being creative is not something you can schedule in around other work and expect great results.
Creativity is both a skill and a talent, and like most skills you can refine it ... and like most talents there will be days when you sing like the angels and others when your voice is tight and closed.
Demanding instant creativity is about as logical as calling for planned spontaneity.
Creativity is something that sneaks up on you, like smoke seeps around cracks in doors and through crevasses in walls. Whispers of ideas come together like plumes of smoke. If you grab too tightly at the wisps, all you end up with is a handful of nothing.
Fear drains creativity faster than a large hole in the bottom of a rowboat. Fears of worthiness, of security and of making mistakes block you from hearing the Muses voice. All you hear are the voices of Harpies, reminding you why you are not, and never will be, creative.
And being super busy all the time means your mind is so full of noise and internal conversations, that you don't let the Muses of Creativity get a word in edgewise. Creativity needs space to breathe.
But there are ways to unhinge the mental tightness, clear the mind chatter and unblock the fear logjam. Here are a few of my favourites:
1. Get a left field prompt
Edward deBono (one of the gurus of creativity), called it Po. Me ... I like the Whack Pack approach. Failing that, get someone to throw you a keyword. These left field prompts change the stuck thoughts and take your thinking in new directions.
2. Sleep on it
Einstein loved his naps. Many of the best creative ideas come after sleep (something not easy to do at work, so just take the issue home with you to nap on).
3. Exercise
Fresh air, a change of scene and doing something physical can take you out of your mind and into your body. It seems to shift your energy out of your brain and down into your feet, in a way that you suddenly also mentally start walking a new path.
4. Clutter clear
If your surroundings are cluttered, often so is your mind. Commit a neatness in your surrounding area and see what happens.
5. Stream of consciousness writing
Pick up a pen, set a timer for 10 minutes and then start writing quickly about nothing and everything. Don't put the pen down, stop writing or pause for thought until the buzzer sounds. If fear is the issue – write about the fear. The act of writing quietens the mind chatter enough for creative whispers to start to come out.
Everyone has their creative dry days, especially those of us who are creative for a living. When you are creatively dry, you need to change direction, alter your focus and recharge. You need to stop and allow mental space and time for creativity to re-emerge, rather than force the pace.
Creativity on cue? Perhaps later - I can feel a nap coming on.
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| Books of the Week: Creativity Classics |
There are some brilliants books out there on creativity - here are just three my favourites.
The all time classic Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step (Perennial Library)
by Edward deBono. This should be on everyone's top 100 reading list.
A recent classic The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles - a brilliant book by Stephen Pressfield on overcoming creative blocks.
Creative Whack Pack Deck & Book Set by Roger von Oech. I have used this for years as a way of changing my thinking direction (& yes, I have the iphone app as well - I use it that much!)
Spelling standards are falling - does anyone care anymore? Actually ... yes! This week I share a story of where spelling mistakes put lives in danger.
exuberantly yours
Ingrid
Heart Harmony
Legal stuff: This newsletter is intended as only a general guideline for Australian businesses. You should seek specific advice for your situation rather than relying only on this newsletter
Earnings disclaimer. Some of the content may include advertorial information, which means I may receive financial compensation for the products I recommend. But - unless I know and trust the product, I will not recommend it.
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