Creativity
The time has come to examine my own scale of creativity based on Ruth's theory of creativity: c=EM(9).... creativity is available to Everyone and is multiplied by the M factors... magnifying motivation, metamorphosing mentors, manufacturing mindfulness, mixing moods, mining multiple intelligences, mitigating misjudgments, making mistakes, mustering mirth and maximizing memory!!
Magnifying motivation - when one moves into the flow state ( I think where all attention is focused), there is intense motivation to concentrate on the task at hand. I am pretty good at concentration - even at the dullest task, so I guess I can move to the flow state. I need to pause and determine where I want to focus and be more demanding of myself with the selection criteria rather than just doing what is at hand. In other words, I think I must redirect my motivation from what I should be doing but to what is desirable to do.
Metamorphosing mentors - I am not particularly good at this. I tend to rely on myself a la Emerson and not open myself to the guidance of others. I prefer to mentor because I feel better when I am in charge. I need to relax my guard and realize I can learn so much from others. I will never know it all. It is a personality trait that I can consciously offset. As I pursue creative thought and outlets, perhaps I need new mentors or need to mentor in different ways.
Manufacturing mindfulness - a Google search suggests I must live in the moment. I believe that I have begun that transition through 'retirement'. I no longer feel the pressure of schedule and enjoy the moment - whether it ends or extends. A friend is pursuing mindful meditation and suggests there should be a conscious pause to pursue mindfulness. I need to explore to find the benefits and perhaps create that pause for myself.
Mixing moods - this step is a bid perplexing. I can see ensuring joy is intermingled with serious intent. Do I have a need for sadness to offset happiness?I probably need to make sure I do not sustain a single mood. I think I have to examine different types of moods and determine how they affect my productivity and enjoyment and creativity. As I think about it, many artists - Blake and Wyeth - produced great art when focusing on death. Maybe this M means that rather than rejecting moods, we should embrace them/explore them to see where they lead.
Mining multiple intelligences is more clearcut; however, I am so attuned to my own knowledge-based analytical mindset that I have not explored all intelligences. I am aware of the artistic and pursue it periodically; I am aware of physical intelligence and give my muscles and bones due diligence but do not necessarily stretch them to excellence. I need to explore the other facets of intelligence to extend myself.
Mitigating misjudgments - does this mean keeping an open mind? repairing opinions where I am wrong? My stubborn streak does not often forgive or admit when I am wrong. I think this known personality trait can be examined with perhaps a richer outcome in my thinking.
Making mistakes - I've never liked or accepted being wrong. If I am more objective rather than taking mistakes personally, undoubtedly I can turn these errors into learning and maybe 'creating' experiences.
Mustering mirth - laughter is such a wonderful ingredient of life; it balances out so much negativity. My humor tends to be on the sarcastic side so I need to make sure my cutting remarks are not painful.
Maximizing memory - ah, age has reduced a memory that was once able to recall names and faces. I exercise this aspect of my mind. I am not sure how it helps me be creative, but mind games stimulate thinking.
Now, the next steps: clarification, figuring out how to internalize these dimensions in my daily life. I guess I need a gameplan?
Magnifying motivation - when one moves into the flow state ( I think where all attention is focused), there is intense motivation to concentrate on the task at hand. I am pretty good at concentration - even at the dullest task, so I guess I can move to the flow state. I need to pause and determine where I want to focus and be more demanding of myself with the selection criteria rather than just doing what is at hand. In other words, I think I must redirect my motivation from what I should be doing but to what is desirable to do.
Metamorphosing mentors - I am not particularly good at this. I tend to rely on myself a la Emerson and not open myself to the guidance of others. I prefer to mentor because I feel better when I am in charge. I need to relax my guard and realize I can learn so much from others. I will never know it all. It is a personality trait that I can consciously offset. As I pursue creative thought and outlets, perhaps I need new mentors or need to mentor in different ways.
Manufacturing mindfulness - a Google search suggests I must live in the moment. I believe that I have begun that transition through 'retirement'. I no longer feel the pressure of schedule and enjoy the moment - whether it ends or extends. A friend is pursuing mindful meditation and suggests there should be a conscious pause to pursue mindfulness. I need to explore to find the benefits and perhaps create that pause for myself.
Mixing moods - this step is a bid perplexing. I can see ensuring joy is intermingled with serious intent. Do I have a need for sadness to offset happiness?I probably need to make sure I do not sustain a single mood. I think I have to examine different types of moods and determine how they affect my productivity and enjoyment and creativity. As I think about it, many artists - Blake and Wyeth - produced great art when focusing on death. Maybe this M means that rather than rejecting moods, we should embrace them/explore them to see where they lead.
Mining multiple intelligences is more clearcut; however, I am so attuned to my own knowledge-based analytical mindset that I have not explored all intelligences. I am aware of the artistic and pursue it periodically; I am aware of physical intelligence and give my muscles and bones due diligence but do not necessarily stretch them to excellence. I need to explore the other facets of intelligence to extend myself.
Mitigating misjudgments - does this mean keeping an open mind? repairing opinions where I am wrong? My stubborn streak does not often forgive or admit when I am wrong. I think this known personality trait can be examined with perhaps a richer outcome in my thinking.
Making mistakes - I've never liked or accepted being wrong. If I am more objective rather than taking mistakes personally, undoubtedly I can turn these errors into learning and maybe 'creating' experiences.
Mustering mirth - laughter is such a wonderful ingredient of life; it balances out so much negativity. My humor tends to be on the sarcastic side so I need to make sure my cutting remarks are not painful.
Maximizing memory - ah, age has reduced a memory that was once able to recall names and faces. I exercise this aspect of my mind. I am not sure how it helps me be creative, but mind games stimulate thinking.
Now, the next steps: clarification, figuring out how to internalize these dimensions in my daily life. I guess I need a gameplan?
posted by Lynne Levesque and Judy DeBrandt at
11:24 AM
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