Sharing the mental & emotional journey of one creative project (designing contemporary mandalas) to reveal how mindfulness can help us stay creatively well
Recognising the challenge of Creativity can help motivate us
Creativity is not all about getting ideas. It's actually about being able to shift between two very opposite ways of thinking which can be really tricky.
Generating ideas uses explorative thinking so that we stay open to creating many possibilities. This is called Divergent Thinking. But without a second kind of thinking, called Convergent Thinking, we would never be able to pick the best idea.
Developing self awareness is key to recognising when you are stuck and learning how to talk yourself through the inevitable creative block builds resilience for creativity.
Becoming MORE MINDFUL during creativity CAN help us to TAKE RISKS
To create anything unique or different we must go to the edge of all we know. Most people are uncomfortable with not-knowing as being confused can knock our confidence & feel ‘wrong’.
Understanding that these feelings are not just a likely part of creativity but an inevitable part of it means we can accept creative blocks as part of the process.
Curbing the 'inner critic' and developing a more 'supportive voice' when we are feeling self-doubt or confusion is one way to help us navigate our edge, wherever that may be.
an honest picture of creativity
The full spectrum of creative feelings: Being mindful of ‘the blues’ encourages a healthier practice.
Experiencing creativity only through viewing final works of art, design, music, dance, theatre etc. can be demotivating for young people or any learner.
This site shares both the challenging aspects of my process (the confusion, anxiety and self doubt) and the positive experiences (the certainty, trust and joy) in order to present a more honest and holistic picture of what creation entails. The message being that when we are stuck in the blue/the challenging phases (see image) we are not, not creative but engaged in an essential part of the process of discovery. Becoming more mindful while navigating though ‘the blue’ can help build healthy strategies to keep creatives well.
This infographic was developed from the notes I kept about how I felt throughout this 15 month project.