LifeDev: How Not Knowing Can Unleash Your Creative Genius
kid
· 4 months ago
Interesting post (and very timely for me). I personally find it extremely difficult not to follow the first answer when I am under strong pressure . It hardly pays but I don't learn from the experience. Must create some mantra based on your ideas, maybe it'll help :-) But if you're not your own boss, it might not be that easy because it's not only the tension between the question and the answer you have to stand but also the one between you and your boss... It often seems easier to bombard them with wrong solutions until you maybe finally get to something acceptable rather that ask to give you some time to think and come with a brilliant one.
CathD
· 4 months ago
@kid: I think everybody finds it hard not to go with the first answer, because the uncertainty of not knowing creates stress and the stress response creates urgency (and closes narrows our thinking). It's so important to relax, so you can get out of the stress response and then you'll have better quality thinking.
Unfortunately not all bosses appreciate this stuff!
TheBaumGroup
· 4 months ago
Uncertainty is the gateway to creativity, and patience is the key.
James Archuleta
· 4 months ago
This article is truly mind opening. This blog is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I've always been the type that does research and try's to understand as much of the problem as I can before attempting to solve it. The anxiety or as you call it "Creative tension" is simply not something I've considered as a tool. Thanks for the insight, much appreciated.
Glen Stansberry
· 4 months ago
James, you're too kind here. But thanks Cath for the article :) She's the genius behind today's work!
James Archuleta
· 4 months ago
Ha Ha, I missed the credits. I'll go check out her blog. Thanks.
CathD
· 4 months ago
Hi James,
Thanks so much - so glad you found this post valuable :)
"I've always been the type that does research and try's to understand as much of the problem as I can before attempting to solve it" - Agile Living Strategies are a lot about helping people to move out of this kind of thinking (which we're all taught in school/ university/ corporate life!) and to learn to be more present and observant, and to respond creatively, drawing on their innate knowledge (which is always more genius than the stuff we've "learned" through institutions). This way we can be more agile, changing our minds easily and elegantly in creative response to our changing environments, and create more of the life we want. Do stop by my sites and see what else you can use.
Cath
Phil Novara
· 4 months ago
Truly enjoyed this read...in other words it is basically creating a "burning desire."
Same principle in "Think and Grow Rich" by Napolean Hill...only simplified. I like looking at it this way though. Keep writing!
CathD
· 4 months ago
Hi Phil,
Part of the tension is developed from articulating the outcome you want, but my sense of "Think & Grow Rich" and other resources in that genre is that they create the tension by phrasing the outcome in the present tense, as an affirmation. What's different about this method is that you're focusing on your outcome in the form of a question. My experience of this is that it helps me to relax and not be so attached to the specific outcome, whilst I "work" on generating solutions. I find the question also gives me a playful sense of curiosity, which I don't get when I focus on just the outcome phrased as an affirmation. Might just be my personal style/ particular personality... I'd be very interested to know whether you also experience it this way when you use a question instead of an affirmation.
Cath
UFMurphy
· 4 months ago
Cath,
This is truly amazing stuff. I've seen this every day in just about all of my past jobs. My current employer, which I actually love working for, has an appreciation for these very topics, but it's waning due to the explosion in growth.
I love the guideline for creating this creative tension. My question is... Do you think it applies to everyone? I am slowly forming the opinion that people are hard-wired to be great "executors" or great "creators" - but very seldom both. Creators, us, realize the value in thinking about something before acting - we're solutioning. The questions that give rise to creative tension actually do create disharmony in us. But for many, it doesn't. Some people prefer to just crank a handle, prepare the fries or create meaningless powerpoint slides without the compulsion to solve any problem at all.
It's amazing to me how "in the weeds" we've become in America. I actually think that the mess on Wall Street had a lot to do with "executors" performing tasks and never stepping back to see the big picture. Granted, there were a few "creators" at the top who saw the big picture very clearly.
Ironically, it seems like creativity was given a pink slip and its work was dumped on the remaining "process-driven" staff to handle.
I cannot say I have done any secondary research, but I consider myself a student of life and observe this stuff daily. I have some great stories that would make you laugh, but likely not surprise you at all.
If you have any other great research references, I'd love to start reading up on the academic thought behind this.
Again, great stuff. Jim
CathD
· 4 months ago
Hi Jim,
So glad you enjoyed the article :)
mmm... are some of us better at creating while others are better at executing? Sure. Can anyone use this method to become more creative? I definitely think so. Executers might have to work a bit more on tolerating their anxiety and developing patience and creative people might have to remind themselves that the method also involves setting a deadline, but I think anyone can benefit from it. I guess it goes back to the whole nature/ nurture debate... how much is "hard-wired" and how much can we change? Research these days is showing our brains are incredibly plastic and we can change the way we're "hardwired" quite dramatically. And of course, as a coach, I hold the belief that we can learn anything and even change aspects of our "personality" if we're willing to apply ourselves to the task.
And resources to read... I tend to lose track of my references because I pull from so many different resources, but I know this idea of "creative Tension" I definitely got from Peter Senge's book, "The 5th Discipline." It's a great book about creating a learning (and therefore more creative) organisation. I also draw a lot from neuro-linguistic psychology, where I've learned about stuff like the Zagarnic effect (you can google and find more to read about that), and the power of questions. Tony Robins has a very good chapter about the way questions work and how to ask smart questions in his book, "Awaken the Giant Within." I also attended a fantastic seminar with Dr Martha Beck earlier this year, called, "unleash your inner genius" (I believe she's running another in Oct, & hopefully the recording will be available to purchase afterwards. She only ever does a particular training a few times and then she's moved on to something else amazing). She referenced a book called, "The Talent Code" quite a bit. You can also google "Eureka effect" and you'll find more research related to the idea of holding/ building creative tension.
I didn't get this exercise from a book though. I made it up, and then tried it myself and got amazing results with carrying around an open question, so I do it all the time now, and I've taught it to some of my clients and they're getting great results with it too. Like most of the stuff I teach, I check if I get results with it first.
I'd love to hear how it goes for you, when you use it!
Cath
Byron Kawaichi
· 4 months ago
You have articulated a process I have been wrestling with for 20 years as a designer. Thank you for this clarity. Maybe it will help me not take the anxiety so seriously.
CathD
· 4 months ago
@Byron: *big smile* Wow, so glad this was useful for you. You're right, recognising that anxiety is a powerful part of the process of creativity can help you to not get anxious about getting anxious... so you can relieve yourself of a layer of anxiety. I find that holding a question also helps me to feel curious, which is a playful feeling for me, and then that's a nice positive feeling that makes the whole experience lighter.
Enjoy playing! Cath
Anthony Mallgren
· 3 months ago
Regular Steven Covey type of stuff right here. Maybe the 9th Habit of Highly Effective People.
Gilbert Ross
· 3 months ago
Fantastic article Glen!
I particularly like the way you explained the knowledge gap which creates the creative tension. This gap together with establishing your intentions and articulating the right questions is what I would refer to as the active or generative part of the creative process.
The other step is the passive part where it is important to suspend judgments, clear your mind of preconceptions and as you said not rush off to the first answer. I believe this is why meditations is essential to cultivate this part of the creative cycle.
Gilbert Ross
· 3 months ago
Hi Cath,
I am sorry that I now realize that I should have addressed the compliment and comment to you. I was just knackered yesterday evening writing the comment with eyelids half-closed! so failed to see the guest details at the end of the article. Two thumbs up for the article. Brilliant :)
CathD
· 3 months ago
Hi Gilbert,
No sweat! Glad u enjoyed it, and I like your distinction about active & passive phases in the process - that helps with the whole Tao paradox of doing without doing, and all that stuff :)
Cath
coldburnfury
· 3 months ago
Look at every problem and the solution of each problem from a different angle. The difficult part of this process is becoming a bit too merticulous of your ending result. However, discipline is a good trait to have when you want quality versus a rush job. I agree with this article, however, I feel that it does not go into enough depth when the author mentioned "creating the gap". That is a serious step, which invlovled disavowing yourself and all of your current achievements and developing a hunger for perfection. If not checked, this hunger can develop into an obsession. Such behavior has its benefits, however the obsessor has deafened his/hers reasoning deduction capabilities.
Blake Rockey
· 3 months ago
@kid:: your comments remind me of a conversation I had recently with a film director on true creativity clashing with commercial intent. Those producing a film often set goals and deadlines for those creating the film and this works in the end to undermine the creativity. This problem happens everyday but the key I've found is to have balance. Feel the pressure of deadlines and expectations and use that tension to fuel your creativity. As the post said, it helps if you have a clear distinction between where you are and where you want to be. A good way of defining this is by asking the right question. When crafting the question you're trying to solve start with "What" or "How" instead of "why" "when" or "who", include yourself in the question and focus on acting to achieve the goal. How can I or What can I do to... Great post! It hits the nail right on the head.
All Comments
Unfortunately not all bosses appreciate this stuff!
Thanks so much - so glad you found this post valuable :)
"I've always been the type that does research and try's to understand as much of the problem as I can before attempting to solve it" - Agile Living Strategies are a lot about helping people to move out of this kind of thinking (which we're all taught in school/ university/ corporate life!) and to learn to be more present and observant, and to respond creatively, drawing on their innate knowledge (which is always more genius than the stuff we've "learned" through institutions). This way we can be more agile, changing our minds easily and elegantly in creative response to our changing environments, and create more of the life we want. Do stop by my sites and see what else you can use.
Cath
Same principle in "Think and Grow Rich" by Napolean Hill...only simplified. I like looking at it this way though. Keep writing!
Part of the tension is developed from articulating the outcome you want, but my sense of "Think & Grow Rich" and other resources in that genre is that they create the tension by phrasing the outcome in the present tense, as an affirmation. What's different about this method is that you're focusing on your outcome in the form of a question. My experience of this is that it helps me to relax and not be so attached to the specific outcome, whilst I "work" on generating solutions. I find the question also gives me a playful sense of curiosity, which I don't get when I focus on just the outcome phrased as an affirmation. Might just be my personal style/ particular personality... I'd be very interested to know whether you also experience it this way when you use a question instead of an affirmation.
Cath
This is truly amazing stuff. I've seen this every day in just about all of my past jobs. My current employer, which I actually love working for, has an appreciation for these very topics, but it's waning due to the explosion in growth.
I love the guideline for creating this creative tension. My question is... Do you think it applies to everyone? I am slowly forming the opinion that people are hard-wired to be great "executors" or great "creators" - but very seldom both. Creators, us, realize the value in thinking about something before acting - we're solutioning. The questions that give rise to creative tension actually do create disharmony in us. But for many, it doesn't. Some people prefer to just crank a handle, prepare the fries or create meaningless powerpoint slides without the compulsion to solve any problem at all.
It's amazing to me how "in the weeds" we've become in America. I actually think that the mess on Wall Street had a lot to do with "executors" performing tasks and never stepping back to see the big picture. Granted, there were a few "creators" at the top who saw the big picture very clearly.
Ironically, it seems like creativity was given a pink slip and its work was dumped on the remaining "process-driven" staff to handle.
I cannot say I have done any secondary research, but I consider myself a student of life and observe this stuff daily. I have some great stories that would make you laugh, but likely not surprise you at all.
If you have any other great research references, I'd love to start reading up on the academic thought behind this.
Again, great stuff.
Jim
So glad you enjoyed the article :)
mmm... are some of us better at creating while others are better at executing? Sure. Can anyone use this method to become more creative? I definitely think so. Executers might have to work a bit more on tolerating their anxiety and developing patience and creative people might have to remind themselves that the method also involves setting a deadline, but I think anyone can benefit from it. I guess it goes back to the whole nature/ nurture debate... how much is "hard-wired" and how much can we change? Research these days is showing our brains are incredibly plastic and we can change the way we're "hardwired" quite dramatically. And of course, as a coach, I hold the belief that we can learn anything and even change aspects of our "personality" if we're willing to apply ourselves to the task.
And resources to read... I tend to lose track of my references because I pull from so many different resources, but I know this idea of "creative Tension" I definitely got from Peter Senge's book, "The 5th Discipline." It's a great book about creating a learning (and therefore more creative) organisation. I also draw a lot from neuro-linguistic psychology, where I've learned about stuff like the Zagarnic effect (you can google and find more to read about that), and the power of questions. Tony Robins has a very good chapter about the way questions work and how to ask smart questions in his book, "Awaken the Giant Within." I also attended a fantastic seminar with Dr Martha Beck earlier this year, called, "unleash your inner genius" (I believe she's running another in Oct, & hopefully the recording will be available to purchase afterwards. She only ever does a particular training a few times and then she's moved on to something else amazing). She referenced a book called, "The Talent Code" quite a bit. You can also google "Eureka effect" and you'll find more research related to the idea of holding/ building creative tension.
I didn't get this exercise from a book though. I made it up, and then tried it myself and got amazing results with carrying around an open question, so I do it all the time now, and I've taught it to some of my clients and they're getting great results with it too. Like most of the stuff I teach, I check if I get results with it first.
I'd love to hear how it goes for you, when you use it!
Cath
Enjoy playing!
Cath
I particularly like the way you explained the knowledge gap which creates the creative tension. This gap together with establishing your intentions and articulating the right questions is what I would refer to as the active or generative part of the creative process.
The other step is the passive part where it is important to suspend judgments, clear your mind of preconceptions and as you said not rush off to the first answer. I believe this is why meditations is essential to cultivate this part of the creative cycle.
I am sorry that I now realize that I should have addressed the compliment and comment to you. I was just knackered yesterday evening writing the comment with eyelids half-closed! so failed to see the guest details at the end of the article. Two thumbs up for the article. Brilliant :)
No sweat! Glad u enjoyed it, and I like your distinction about active & passive phases in the process - that helps with the whole Tao paradox of doing without doing, and all that stuff :)
Cath
Great post! It hits the nail right on the head.