Stress VS Creativity

Now when I use the term "creativity", I mean the kind of states of mind and body where thoughts and ideas flow freely; where there is a STREAM of data information that comes clearly from a very different place than one might normally inhabit and which translates smoothly and perfectly into colours, visions, sounds, patterns, movements, actions and resolutions.

These are very beautiful states, very precious; this flow of "creativity" is nourishing, enlivening and one can do so many things for a long time without feeling in the slightest bit tired; when it is done, one is happy, very much at peace and delighted, too.

It isn't all that easy to enter these states of flow; and there are different levels of intensity, different depths and different intensities, and there's a pathway INTO the really amazing deep states where the good stuff resides.

If this is interrupted (by a phone call, someone wanting something, the cat throwing up et al) one experiences a very similar sense of jarring unpleasantness, just like being shocked out of a trance or hypnotic induction by a rude interruption; this is very unpleasant and disorientating.

Further, to find one's pathway BACK to that place where one was interrupted is tricky, even if one generally knows quite well just how to step down and step away from the "ordinary" states of being.

Stress, fear and chaos in the environment simply PRECLUDES access to these creative levels, and as I mentioned above, this is a mathematically precise correlation between the amount of stress is present, and what states can be reached because of it.

For people who actually need these flow states for their work or their sanity this is good news.

What it means is first of all that creativity isn't "fickle" or "unexplicable" or "strikes randomly".

There is a direct state-PLACE of creativity, and actually within that, there are levels of creativity which correspond to just what kind of creative endeavour can be undertaken - for example, the place from which one can still successfully write a radio jingle is closer to "normal awareness" than a place for a good Country and Western song, and that is halfway to the place where one would start writing a symphony.

Creativity FAILS when there's too much stress.

Stress creates a fog of disturbance that traps consciousness inside of itself and the routes into the various creative flow states are simply lost; and where this becomes really troublesome is when the BACKGROUND stress is so high that creativity seems to have forsaken the person altogether.

Then we are in "writer's block" country.

The inability to access the creative flow states (which are healing and energising in and of themselves, and a countermeasure to stress wear outs!) now itself causes further worry and stress, and now the attempts at reaching the creative flow states is ever further disrupted.

Trying to force some form of behaviour against stress confusion results also in very "unsatisfactory results" - bad art, art that lacks that sparkle and conviction which comes ONLY from the integral flow states.

Disappointment, fear that "the muse has forsaken me", a previously beloved activity becoming a hard slog with miserable results ALL futher increases stress - and all the time, creativity states become more and more unreachable.

And the moral of the tail?

If you ever had creative flow experiences and now you don't have them anymore, that's because people get consecutively more stressed in our societies, the older they become.

If you are an artist and you worried about your creative expression, or dissatisfied with it, get to work on your stress levels.

They go down, YOU get to go to creative city again.

It's quite simple, really, drug free and important to know for anyone who loves to touch the "creative flow".

For help with stress, please visit The Sidereus Foundation. To have more fun with creativity, check out the The Project Sanctuary Player's Portal

---

Ideas

While the inception of penicillin brought a bit of a... Read More

Creativity Management ? Don?t Write, Rewrite

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Creating Reality ? Discovering the Magician Within

We all create our own reality each and every day,... Read More

Be Creative: 10 Easy Steps To Increase Your Confidence, Creativity and Cash In The Attention Economy

How can you be more creative? How can you turn... Read More

Mindfulness and Music: Things That Go Hmmm

Shhh... can you hear it?One of the most powerful forms... Read More

The Power Of Your Intuition

We all have enormous reserves of mental capacity that we... Read More

How To Discover Hidden Talents Within You And Begin Appyling Them In Your Life Now

Have you decided it may be time to start creating... Read More

Mind Power Games

Want a fun way to tune up your brain? Why... Read More

I Want To Create...

What would you like to create? A peaceful life, a... Read More

10 Tools for Dealing with Criticism and Rejection

Ouch! Whether it's feedback we've asked for, an unsolicited remark... Read More

Overcoming Artists Block (part 2)

Once you are ready to start working again you will... Read More

3 Clever Creative Strategies!

I've got a confession to make... there are many ways... Read More

Creative Thinking versus Critical Thinking

The process of creative thinking is often, mistakenly, intertwined with... Read More

Fear & Creativity

My fears are most powerful when they're simmering just under... Read More

Rejuvenate & Re-Fuel Your Inner Drive

I believe that as solo-entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives we... Read More

Why Teach Thinking? Why Not ?

The word 'creativity' has so many diverse meanings and interpretations.... Read More

10 Ways To Boost Your Creativity

Creativity is your birthright ? but can often be hidden... Read More

Are You A Creative Meathead?

Remember Archie Bunker's description of what a Meathead was on... Read More

Creativity, Innovation, and Market Performance

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Shyness - Another View

We are all born shy, aren't we? When we see... Read More

Creativity Management ? Its All About Routine

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

A Quick Course in Creativity

This quick course in creativity is designed to give you... Read More

A Question of Time and Memory

I have been struck recently by a number of questions... Read More

Trying to Create From Distorted Perceptions?

We've all met people who are "negative" ? negative thinkers... Read More

Mindfulness and Creativity: The Wow of Wonder

You are so creative.Don't deny it. Whether or not you... Read More

Sleep and Creativity

In my life, sleep is the number one way that... Read More

Gift of a Letter

"What cannot letters inspire? They have souls; they can speak;... Read More

How To Increase Creativity... Set Deadlines!

Deadlines are something all of us face from time to... Read More

Creative Dreams - What Winter Driving Taught Me

We had a winter storm the other day here in... Read More

Make EVERY DAY An Artist Retreat Day

What do you enjoy most about going on an Artist... Read More

Top Ten Ways To Jump-Start Your Creativity

1 - Take A Tour of the Great Outdoors Consider... Read More

10 Ways to Thrive as a Creative Artist

1. Connect with your DREAM ? Indulge yourself in a... Read More

Innovation: Wake Up Your People?s Creative Genius

Successful companies have innovation in their blood. The single most... Read More