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CREATIVE CHANGE: Mindset

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When your creativity is waning, the most likely change needed is that of your own mindset. This could look any variety of ways. Two are strong possibilities. 1. You are Jealous Unless a speaker or writer really really impresses me or makes me think differently than I had before I heard them, I am generally dismissive of them as a speaker and author. Two things I have not pursued or gone after! But something in me is dismissive and unimpressed.

This thing within is jealousy. Jealousy is basically a part of you that is convinced there can only be one of something, and you are not that one.

The problem lies in that most things can have more than one of them. It is possible for there to be more than one artist within whatever artistry you pursue. But that part of you that gets FRUSTRATED when someone else accomplishes something you know you can do is jealousy.

2. You Don't Dream  This is just simple psychology. I have read of a few different studies that show our minds are their most creative when they are allowed to disengage from the rigidity. Our brains are most creative when they are allowed to wander without force. Set time to make that happen!

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What mindset change needs to happen for you to be more creative?

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CREATIVE CHANGE: Friends

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Hector is one of my most important friends. Though I rarely see him, he is still vital to my life. Why? Because he is one of my most inspirational friends. This is not one of those, "he's been through the ringer so he is inspirational" type stories. Hector is a go-getter. He is an image of carpe diem. He is one who follows his inspiration with abandon...always.

Every time I sit down coffee or beer with Hector, I walk away ready to create. At times it is a simple situation of being inspired by someone who follows his dreams. Other times it is an issue of him demanding that I create and not accepting any excuse I prepare for him.

If your creativity is waning, surround yourself with inspirational and creative people. Surround yourself with people who will not only inspire you but demand creativity out of you.

Surround yourself with friends who will not accept any excuse you give, no matter how good the excuse is.

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Tell me, on one sentance, about the most inspirational person in your life right NOW.

*CREATIVE CHANGE INTRO

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CREATIVE CHANGE: Intake

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The saying goes, "Garbage in; garbage out." Creativity can be reapplied to this saying. If your creativity output is lacking, take a look at your intake. Are you listening to the same music over and over? Find a new artist and see if your creativity does not take a new jolt. Try an entirely different genre than your usual and see what new ways your creativity is sparked. Listen to some more creative podcasts (search "spoken word" "TEDTalks" "IndieFeed" or "The Moth" to get started)

Do you only read a certain kind of book? Mix up between fiction and non-fiction, leadership and fun, self-help and trash. Browse more magazines. (you don't HAVE to read every article)

Watch a more artistic movie (I think you're supposed to call them "films").

Change your intake of things and see whether your creative output doesn't begin to change in return.

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What are your most inspirational intake?

*CREATIVE CHANGE INTRO

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CREATIVE CHANGE: Environment

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All the changes we need to make in order to see our creativity return are breaks in the rut of routine so many of us find ourselves in. If you are looking at what you do and see a lack of the creativity you know is within you, one of the first changes you can try to make is ENVIRONMENT.

The environment and atmosphere you exist in have incredible impacts on our creativity. There are certain places you exist in that squash any remaining breath of creative air you might have, and there are others which are like pulling a little tank full of compressed creativity to your nostrils. Find the latter places. 

More often than not, your office is NOT a creative place. Your bedroom is not a creative place. Your home is not always a creative place.

Change your environment for a few minutes on your lunch break and breathe in the possibility of creativity in the midst of your day.

Change your environment for a couple hours and set some fresh creative roots.

Change your environment or a weekend or a week and reboot your creativity all-together.

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What are your most creative environments?

*CREATIVE CHANGE WEEK INTRO

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CREATIVE CHANGE: Process

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Creativity is an ethereal animal it seems. There are times it is strong and heavy on you, while there are other times it seems to avoid you like an newly broken up ex. When we want creativity to flow, we more often than not expect to wake up creative one day. We expect a breath of fresh air to flip the switch in our brain back over to "creative". It rarely works.

You have to make changes in the creative process if you want to see a change in production of creativity. 

This week is dedicated to the things we need to change in order to get back to the creativity we all love and crave. All the changes are part of a process. Creativity may be an inherent gift, but maintaining creativity is a process.

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What non-exercise do you wish would keep you fit

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Seems natural to say I wish eating made me fit. I also wish drinking coffee, reading books, preaching sermons, writing blogs, and driving a Scion made you fit. ----------

What non-exercise activity do you wish made you fit?

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Refreshing Exhaustion

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This Friday at 6am, I leave with my home church to Mexicali for a week. It is a full day of driving straight through to set up a week of partnership ministry with the local churches in the city. Then it will be a long drive back home just in time for the Saturday Easter services at First Cov.  A few nights ago, Tonya and I were chatting about this week and the things which need to get done. She said, "I'm looking forward to you going to Mexicali so you can come back refreshed."

It struck me weird, and I had to respond inquisitively, "You DO know I'm going to come home exhausted, right?"

My wife spoke wisdom...AGAIN. "Yes, you will come home physically exhausted, but you are going to come home refreshed in ministry just like you did last year."

She was and is very right. (obviously! It's a spiritual gift wives have: always-right-ness)

I am reaching a similar threshold I was reaching last year at this time; one that is overwhelming in all the demands of maintaining ministry. The spinning plates are starting to totter. Tonya added, "You're starting to forget things and drop things that just aren't 'you' to drop."

Though there is a lot of work to be done in Mexicali, I can ONLY do the work of Mexicali. Away from my computer. Away from my iPhone. Away from my leadership team (whom I love). Away from the church I serve (and love). Away from my coffee shop office. Away from my meetings. Away from coffees with disgruntled people. Away from...

Yes, we will run our bodies dry and weary in Mexico, but sometimes we need that sort of removed exhaustion to come home refreshed.

Looking forward to it.

Bare Minimum Fan

I once wrote a post about how I am an SNL fan like many people are Chicago Cubs fans. Late last night I was hit with the inverse reality that I am a Cubs fan like many people are SNL fans. Let me try to explain. As a Cubs fan, I am...

INFREQUENT - Some people do not study the history and art of comedy. I never watch baseball at all. It is a sport I have never appreciated. Yes, I know it's an American pastime, but it simply does not attract me at all. One friend said I just needed to pick a team, and that would help me get into the sport. I have a love affair with the city of Chicago, so I chose the Cubs. I am still not a fan of baseball.

MODERATE - I wear a hat Most people can quote Matt Foley or the Cheerleaders, but most of the sketches I quote draw blank stares. I have purchased and wear a Chicago Cubs hat though I am not sure I have watched an entire game. Poser? No. Just a very moderate fan. 

BANDWAGON - can't wait til they go for the pennant Every time a character or sketch goes viral, suddenly people love the show. Of course I'll say I've always been an a cubs fan when they have an awesome season, because in a way, I was. I just maintain the bare minimum of interest in case of a strong season.

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Of what are you only a moderate fan?

Propaganda: my favorite poet right now

I love the written and spoken word. My ear is always out to hear new poets, and I saw this guy kill it a few weeks ago at Catalyst West. I have been listening like crazy ever since then. Make sure to check him out! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRNrzRcXsiQ&w=480&h=390]