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

---

Creativity and Broken Eggs

In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition.They offered... Read More

Unlock Your Creative Secret Weapon

It seems like this week a ton of people have... Read More

Creative Thinking versus Critical Thinking

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

Telling It Like It Is (Or Can Be)

When you hear, "tell me a story," does your mind... Read More

Creativity Management ? Collaboration NOT Competition

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

The Sylvia Plath Pattern Of Creative Flow

* Sylvia Plath teaches a valuable lesson about the Even... Read More

How to be More Creative and Enhance Your Creativity

efore thinking about how to be more creative, let me... Read More

Creativity Management ? Working From Real Life

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

Creativity Management and Team Size

Effective team structure is critical when managing creativity and creative... Read More

9 Steps to Supercharge Your Productivity with Creativity

Time is the great equalizer. Everybody has the exact same... Read More

Creativity and Inspiration

Creativity for the mystic has special meaning. In the world... Read More

Drawing On Creativity: How To Trick Your Brain

Can you draw?Your answer to that question reveals a surprising... Read More

How Do You Paint New Age

About once every year or so, I take a critical... Read More

Art, Artists and Vocation

"If you really want to upset your parents?go into the... Read More

Creativity Management ? The Value Of An Idea?

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

Make Yourself Creative: Two Easy Idea-Generating Methods

Here are a couple of exercises to force yourself to... Read More

How To Master Your Game

Learn how to master your area of endeavor the right... Read More

Riches Through Creative Thinking!

When solving problems after you have exhausted the normal means... Read More

How You Can Improve Your Creativity - What You Need to Know

Would you like to enhance your creativity? Do you think... Read More

Are You Inventive Enough to be an Inventor? Some Guidelines to Invention Success!

Inventors make a ton of money when the invention is... Read More

Creative Thinking The Secret Key To Lasting Success

What is creativity anyway? Well, let us look at the... Read More

Top Five Journal Exercises

Keeping a journal is a form of creative expression that... Read More

Innovation Through Concept-Combination

There are many creative problem solving techniques used by inventors... Read More

What is Creativity?

Here in England September represents the end of Summer and... Read More

10 Ways To Boost Your Creativity

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

Should You Quit Your Job for Your Dream?

The next time you're moodily sitting in your office, wishing... Read More

Top Ten Ways To Jump-Start Your Creativity

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

7 Techniques to Supercharge your Creativity and Solve your Problems

Do you ever encounter problems, challenges or obstacles in your... Read More

Five Steps to Higher Creativity: Engaging the Human Spirit

Unleash Your Creativity! Creativity has often been the misunderstood... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management : Why Products Fail!

There is no sure fire route to commercial success but... Read More

The Healing Powers of Journaling

For the past several years, I have found joy working... Read More

Go Ahead and Think Outside the Box!

I am trying to create a discipline where I blog... Read More

10 Ways to Thrive as a Creative Artist

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