What makes one person more creative than another? That is an interesting question, one about which I’m sure many would like to chime in with their own hypotheses. After all, creativity is a very personal skill which can be expressed in a variety of ways through a range of artforms. Having worked as an actor for the past 15 years, I have always exercised my creativity as often as possible. Either through improvisation, script writing, character development, or poetry, even though I have comfortably developed my creativity through this expressive artform, I have never quite understood where it came from - what exactly constitutes creativity? Are there certain qualities one can develop to become more creative? Can everyone be creative?
It wasn’t until I began meditating more regularly that I started understanding this notion with more clarity. For me personally, meditation has been a lifesaver. Especially during those gruelling and isolating months of Melbourne’s lockdown. It unequivocally shifted my whole being into a place of more stability and equanimity. This allowed me to explore my thoughts and tendencies from a more balanced place, truly seeking to understand my strengths and proclivities in a more orderly way.
I noticed that my creativity began to flourish from meditating regularly. I sought to understand why and how my 1 hour of daily meditating enhanced my creativity in ways I had never imagined. So, I meditated on it, journaled, brainstormed, and eventually came up with the 6 pillars of creativity. The more of those qualities an individual possesses, the better they’d be able to express their creativity. Those are merely my own discoveries based on hours of research, and while they may not hold any academic or scientific agency, they are presented in a way that’s both logical and rationalised.
So, let’s dig in.
Not Being Afraid to Fail
I have always maintained that the most mundane stand-up comedians are the ones who tread too cautiously. Having to tiptoe through jokes and seek to not offend anyone or come across as the ‘nice person’ makes their jokes seem more like political speeches or Ted Talks (mind you, I have encountered some funny Ted Talks). Of course, no one should ever actively seek to offend anyone, but if your art is coming from a good place, your only concern should be how you pursue your craft.
Walking on eggshells stultifies creative expression and limits the creative mind. Fear inhibits creativity. The more fearful, anxious, or agitated one is, the harder it is to experience creative freedom. True creative expression is best fulfilled when the practitioner is in a calm state. Failure is part of the process and in fact, exposure to failure opens the creative individual to more opportunities. The fear stems from being worried about the outcome. Will I feel judged? Attacked? Excluded? Those are all valid concerns, but the truth is, these outcomes are inevitable regardless of your pursuit. The only way to grow is by stretching oneself further into the unknown.
“So how do I overcome these feelings of fear?”
I thought you’d never ask. The simple answer is- be in the now. Be present. Have you ever achieved a creative flow where you seem funnier or more innovative or more articulate? This is known as a 'flow state'. What if I told you that flow states are not an arbitrary occurrence? They ensue almost every time you’re in the now. When you’re in the present moment your mind is at its peak. You can think with more clarity, and you’re not concerned with anything other than the task you’re focused on. The future is not holding you back and the past ceases from making you question your choices. You become like a maestro in his or her element, elegantly relishing in the task at hand. Without any concerns. The outcome doesn’t matter and when you practice mindfulness and meditation often enough, you develop the reassurance that any failure you encounter will be met with a smile. After all, greater resilience is a fundamental side effect of consistent meditation practice.
Feeling Relaxed
Have you ever tried to navigate through a challenge whilst feeling anxious? It can sometimes feel equivalent to rollerblading uphill on a rainy day. Not easy! Anxiety is the antithesis of creativity. When I first began training as an actor, my teacher would dedicate the first 45 minutes of each class to focused body relaxation exercises. At the time I didn’t quite understand why these were so important. It wasn’t until my stage fright began dissipating and I was therefore less distracted (and could more effectively layer out my character patiently and methodically) that I realised how imperative relaxation is to the process of creative development.
Creativity requires being immersed in the present moment. Without this immersion, you cannot achieve a ‘state of flow’. When you’re in the Now, you’re more capable of thinking of alternative solutions and challenging yourself beyond your ego. We will talk more about ego and how it inhibits creativity a little later, but it is undisputed that feeling relaxed allows one to transcend beyond the ego and into a more authentic state of being (and we all know there’s nothing authentic about the ego!). How? Well, when a person is in an optimal state of relaxation, they care less. Period. The more relaxed individuals are, the less likely they are to overthink. If they are less likely to overthink, they are less likely to feel the need to prove anything. Overthinking is a roadblock to creativity. Just try writing a poem or painting a portrait whilst thinking of something distressing. It’s virtually impossible.
Instead, if you are feeling a sense of unease or restlessness, try pausing for a moment. Set a timer for 20 minutes, close your eyes and focus on the sensations of your breath. Focus on the sounds you can hear, the scents you can smell, the taste in your mouth, the temperature of the room you’re in, and then take deep inhales and deep exhales. When the timer goes off, take a few moments to think of something you’re grateful for in this moment. It could be having a roof over your head, clean running water, a fridge or immediate access to food. Then, when you’re done with this, you may resume your creative endeavour. Click here for my guided meditation to for focus, clarity and presence.
Being Focused
Creativity takes time. You can’t rush the creative process and will an outcome. Unless you’re experiencing one of those rare moments of ‘euphoric divine intervention’ where your mind is running like a well-oiled Lamborghini along the autobahn (on cruise control!), you will require patience and focus to achieve the outcome you’re seeking. Creativity is never about the destination. You must embrace the journey along the way. In many cases more discoveries can be found along the path.
Creativity is a process of growth that requires meticulous attention to detail. Through this process, you grow, explore, and challenge yourself beyond what may seem possible. The creative process requires the artist to dive deep into the depths of the mind into unexplored places and, through their lenses of curiosity, unveil new treasures that may be used as building blocks. This requires focus. Focus, just like a muscle, grows with exercise. Meditation is an excellent way to strengthen your focus.
Among the thousands of meditations that exist there are several that specifically emphasise concentration. One that I would suggest is an open-eyed candlelit meditation. It’s simple: Find a quiet space, light a candle and place it at eye level, sit comfortably and focus on the flame. Inhale deeply, exhale slowly, let thoughts come and go whilst keeping focus on the flame, continue for 5-10 minutes, then you may extinguish the candle safely when you’re done (if you wish).
Truth is, practicing any meditation on a regular basis will help build focus in the long term so find what best resonates with you and have fun!
Detaching
As humans, we’re naturally more inclined to commit to certain approaches or outcomes. We hold an innate proclivity for bias which may result in us being attached to a particular idea, outcome or way of doing things. While commitment can be beneficial in seeing a project through, it may result in a more rigid mindset from which we are attached to our ideas or visions. This in turn can stifle creativity.
As we become more fixated on an idea or outcome, we start seeing things with more tunnel vision without a willingness to look at other possibilities or explore different perspectives or angles. Creativity thrives on exploring. Exploring different concepts, outcomes and approaches. The creative individual will assess all options before navigating in a certain direction (and even then they will keep an open mind). Moreover, when we’re attached to an idea (or to anything for that matter), we struggle to let go of it.
Truth is, sometimes an idea won’t work. It may seem like gold to you in this moment, but not every idea will turn out to be brilliant. Having an open mind about the possibility of other options being better is paramount to creative growth and the cultivation of a creative solution. When you can learn to detach from a particular idea or outcome, you’re also more inclined to listen to feedback. If someone is too attached to their ideas, they may become defensive about feedback or criticism. Constructive feedback is crucial for refining ideas and fostering creative solutions.
Lastly, being too attached to an idea can be draining and can lead to emotional exhaustion. Imagine you dedicated all your time and efforts to achieving a certain outcome without exploring other avenues and then your idea flops or things do not go as planned, it feels like your whole world has been shaken and it may feel like you have to start from scratch all over again. You may even doubt yourself or your capabilities. This can be incredibly draining and may disincentivise you from continuing your pursuit.
Creativity is meant to be fun and playful. Through welcoming playfulness and an openness to different approaches, you learn to not only enjoy the process, but use the process to stay invigorated. Being overly attached to ideas requires energy expenditure, playfully exploring an idea is more akin to using kinetic energy, where the act of doing it is what recharges you.
Zen Buddhism has always emphasised the idea that attachment is the primary source of suffering. By adopting the notion of impermanence, you start realising how change is such a normal part of life and by embracing this philosophy we absolve our minds of rigidity and more positively welcome change.
A great way to learn- and adopt- this mindset is through meditation. Through meditation you realise 2 things (specifically pertaining to attachment)- 1) ideas, thoughts and feelings come and go, and we can easily recognise their impermanence by witnessing them instead of immersing ourselves in them (which leads to attachment)- we become more adept at letting go, and 2) we learn that each moment, each breath, and each sensation is unique. No twow things are ever alike and meditation exposes us to more possibility and to a greater understanding of ourselves through understanding our breath and recurring patterns. This isn’t necessarily articulated through meditation. This understanding is obtained on a deeper, more subconscious level, becoming an innate part of us.
Self-Belief
I remember bumping into an old friend from school a few years ago. I asked him what he has been up to and he informed me that he has decided to transition from the corporate world to the more creative realm of abstract art.
“How long has it been now?” I asked.
“A couple of months” he replied confidently.
He then pulled a card out of his pocket and handed it to me.
“I’m having an exhibition next week. Feel free to drop by if you’re around”
I recall being impressed at how fast he managed to capture a large audience and sell such interesting art albeit being quite new to it.
I felt impressed by his strong belief in his abilities. He did not sit around and doubt whether he is skilled enough or capable of pursuing an exhibition. He didn’t hesitate when stroking his brush against his canvas. He didn’t doubt his creativity. He understood that he had a vision and believed in his ability to express his vision. What people thought about his work was irrelevant to him, all that mattered was how he perceived his own commitment. His self-belief.
Believing in what you’re capable of can propel your work to new heights. Self-belief carries a lot of power. Self-belief helps individuals to face the fear of failure, encouraging them to experiment and explore new ideas without being paralysed by the possibility of not succeeding. Moreover, when faced with challenges or blockages, individuals that possess healthy levels of self-belief are more likely to foster resilience and overcome those challenges. When you hold no self-doubt in your mind, you become more committed to completing the task you have begun.
A greater belief in oneself can also foster more authenticity in the practitioner. When you believe in your capabilities, abilities, and talents, you don’t feel a need to stray from your values or core mission. You let your values fuel your actions and then you create work you’re proud of and passionate about. This in turn results in a greater commitment to your project or mission and a dedication that allows you to explore multiple avenues and grow laterally.
By meditating regularly you learn to confront those ‘doubts’ and understand them for what they are- merely subjective thoughts that can be interpreted differently. You learn to not take those thoughts at face value and see the good in your abilities. You remain calm and composed which helps you perceive yourself more positively and not rush to conclusions about yourself and your abilities.
Open Awareness
The most interesting thing about creativity (in my opinion) is that in many cases it is fuelled by our surroundings and by what is already happening in our lives. Creativity is all around us. It is on the street we’re walking on, in the emotions we carry, in the interactions we engage with or the people we silently observe. Creativity can be mined from the elements in our environments. You see, most people shut down from their surroundings. They ignore their thoughts, disregard their surroundings, snub others’ opinions, and numb their feelings. Every thought, every feeling, every interaction with people or your environment is pure gold for creativity. Every pillar I have discussed in this essay plays a paramount role in driving creativity, but this last pillar is the most important one.
Ideas do not come out of nowhere. They are harvested from the input we receive. The more observant you become, the more input you have to work with and over time you become an alchemist. You can turn everything you encounter, every thought and feeling, into creative gold. Your very surroundings become your battery or your creative fuel. Moreover, you become more alert and over time you will obtain a greater understanding of yourself.
An excellent meditation you can apply to expand your awareness and train your mind to cultivate creativity from within you and outside of you is an Open Monitoring Meditation (OMM). This form of meditation involves maintaining an open, non-reactive awareness of one's experience, observing all perceptions, thoughts, and sensations without focusing on any particular object. Here’s how you do an OMM:
Settle into a comfortable position and gently close your eyes. Take a deep breath and relax. Now, simply observe. Notice sensations, sounds, thoughts, without judgment. Let your awareness roam freely, like a leaf floating on a stream. If your mind wanders, gently guide it back to this open state of observation. After a few moments, slowly open your eyes, carrying this awareness into your day.. You may do this for as long as you want. Remember- the key is to embrace your thoughts, surroundings and feelings and accept them from a place of observation as opposed to immersion. There is true power in this.
In summary: creativity, just like anything, is a muscle that can be strengthened. Meditating regularly allows us to regain those uninhibited attributes we once possessed as children and enables us to express ourselves more freely thus more creatively. The 6 pillars I mentioned above are paramount to successfully cultivating creative expression and one of the best way to enhance these qualities is through meditation.
If you’d like to grow as a creative thinker or as an artist, feel free to book one of Enso Meditation’s meditation sessions and start growing your creative muscles today. We’re here to help you grow and discover more of your potential. A more creative you will lead to greater success in your life both intrinsically and extrinsically.
Need help becoming more creative? Book your custom creativity meditation session for you or your team now to help see a surge in results!
