Maybe you read Communicate your Inspiration, rolled your eyes and asked, but what about when my creativity is broken and there's nothing to communicate? You're not alone.
There have been times in my own life where I've lost all hope that I'll ever feel like picking up a paintbrush, a torch, etc. again. When I go into my doldrums den I can really beat myself up. I wonder what has happened to my creative spirit. I worry it won't ever come back. I fear I've lost myself, my edge, my favorite hobby. Creative block, blugh!
I've recently read* about a study in which researchers used PET scans to study peoples' brains while they recalled intense emotional situations. As the researchers expected, they found the "emotional" part of the brain lit (activity) up like a Christmas tree. What they weren't expecting was the decreased light in the prefrontal cortices.
So what, I'm not a scientist, I'm an artist!?!? Well, the prefontal cortices are where new ideas and creative thought are believed to originate.
Here's where your own prefrontal cortices start firing abstraction: When you are sad or depressed, sick or living/reliving in the midst of trauma, your brain functions highly emotionally as well as continues everyday functions. The chemicals swirl and you literally "stew" in those realities. ...there isn't a lot of time or energy left for the upper reaches of your brain.
The next time you are blocked really ask yourself why and consider the aforementioned. This knowledge could help the make-up of your stew. It doesn't take a brain study to prove "stewing" perpetuates "stewing" (though studies have proven this, too); we've already lived that. Instead of beating yourself up in the doldrums den devote yourself to healing and keep in mind that a fully firing brain is sure to follow health. You'll be back to communicating your inspiration in no time!
There have been times in my own life where I've lost all hope that I'll ever feel like picking up a paintbrush, a torch, etc. again. When I go into my doldrums den I can really beat myself up. I wonder what has happened to my creative spirit. I worry it won't ever come back. I fear I've lost myself, my edge, my favorite hobby. Creative block, blugh!
I've recently read* about a study in which researchers used PET scans to study peoples' brains while they recalled intense emotional situations. As the researchers expected, they found the "emotional" part of the brain lit (activity) up like a Christmas tree. What they weren't expecting was the decreased light in the prefrontal cortices.
So what, I'm not a scientist, I'm an artist!?!? Well, the prefontal cortices are where new ideas and creative thought are believed to originate.
Here's where your own prefrontal cortices start firing abstraction: When you are sad or depressed, sick or living/reliving in the midst of trauma, your brain functions highly emotionally as well as continues everyday functions. The chemicals swirl and you literally "stew" in those realities. ...there isn't a lot of time or energy left for the upper reaches of your brain.
The next time you are blocked really ask yourself why and consider the aforementioned. This knowledge could help the make-up of your stew. It doesn't take a brain study to prove "stewing" perpetuates "stewing" (though studies have proven this, too); we've already lived that. Instead of beating yourself up in the doldrums den devote yourself to healing and keep in mind that a fully firing brain is sure to follow health. You'll be back to communicating your inspiration in no time!
I painted this in 2006 for my friend Scott before he was famous. (I now know I labeled the brain entirely wrong. Artistic liberty!)
*A great read, the book I read was _Mind Wide Open_ by Steven Johnson. The chapter that cites this study is "Hormones Talking".
2 comments:
Great post!
I agree -- great post.
K
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