I'm a highly creative person and I don't indulge in this psychological mumbo jumbo.
If one wants to be successfully creative it helps to be organized about it, and maybe find people who are creative and find out what they do.
Dreams have been described as dress rehearsals for real life, opportunities to gratify wishes, and a form of nocturnal therapy. A new theory aims to make sense of it all.
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When it comes to being creative, you've probably heard many suggestions: "you've just got to let go," "surrender to the process," "go with your gut." All of these recommendations are frustratingly abstract and notoriously difficult to achieve. What do they mean? And how do you execute them?
FROM FOCUS TO UNFOCUS
At the core of each of these processes is a mindset shift—one that requires going from focus to unfocus. In fact, your brain is wired to do just this, and often does so on its own.
WHEN UNFOCUS HURTS
Our minds wander away from focus for 46.9% of our waking hours. We are anything but happy about this. And we should not be. According to Jerome Singer, who has studied mind-wandering for decades, slipping into a daydream, or guiltily rehashing the prior day's indiscretions will not stimulate your creativity. But there is one kind of daydreaming that will help—positive constructive daydreaming (PCD).
WHEN UNFOCUS HELPS
PCD doesn't have to be planned, but if you do plan it, you will be less likely to feel like you are slipping off a cliff of focus. To make it work well, you should start PCD when you are engaged in a low-key activity. You should not be doing something "too engaging" or "not engaging at all." Gardening, knitting or casually surfing the net might all make the cut, as long as they are not stressful. Simultaneously, withdraw your attention from the outside world, and start to let your attention wander within. To get started, use playful or wishful imagery—maybe running through the woods with your dog, or swimming on vacation. Then, once you get the story started with this image, let your mind wander.
WHY UNFOCUS HELPS
Mind wandering per se is not a new method for creativity. It's been known for a long time. But what is relatively new is the finding that when PCD activates the brain's unfocus network, in addition to making associations across the brain, it also turns on the brain's representations of the "self." If at first this sounds irrelevant, think again.
When you want to be creative, you may think it sounds delightful, but your brain actually has another response. Your brain is more likely to categorize "creativity" in the same column as words like "vomit" or "agony." That's what management professor Jennifer Mueller and her colleagues found in 2010 when they looked at the brain's unconscious response. Your journey into your creativity can get a little unruly to say the least. In physical exercise, when lifting weights feels unstable, it helps to be connected to your core. Similarly, when things are mentally challenging, it helps to have your psychological core engaged. This happens when you activate the unfocus circuit.
Called the default mode network (DMN), we used to think of this unfocus circuit as a Do Mostly Nothing circuit. Yet, calling on more parts of yourself gives you the core psychological strength you need to navigate the chaotic journey into creativity. Also, when you are creative, you are expressing an internal vision.
OTHER UNFOCUS TECHNIQUES
Other techniques can also activate the creativity circuit. For example, consistent physical activity, and napping for 90 minutes, can increase creativity too.
Thus, adding focus to a focused day will give you just the cognitive rhythm you want. All three techniques activate the unfocus circuit, and you can use them strategically (e.g. 15 minutes daily) to build the brain networks supporting creativity into your day.
References
Pillay S. (2017). Tinker, Dabble, Doodle,Try: Unlock the Power of the Unfocused Mind. New York, N.Y. Ballantine Books.
I'm a highly creative person and I don't indulge in this psychological mumbo jumbo.
If one wants to be successfully creative it helps to be organized about it, and maybe find people who are creative and find out what they do.
I agree with the need for organization, but not exclusively that. Many brain studies now show that the left and right brain are both involved in creativity—planning and letting go. One without the other would be metaphorically like flying with one wing.
The "mumbo jumbo" you point to works for some but not others. I respect all, and am glad that you are here you feel you should be. Not everyone is. But for those who are open to psychological interventions, I have seen this have profound results—as have many researchers too.
I agree, they're are many ways. Some have a high dose of intuition bringing their creativity and I find doing exactly what this article states super helpful in recharging and priming my creative intuition. Check out Scott Barry Kaufman's work.
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