ARTICLES
& REPORTS
Personal
Creativity
- P e r s o n a l _ C r e a t i v i t y -
The Thinking Process
By Carolyn Sullivan
Rhythmic Processing
What if we align our actions with the phases—the rhythms—of the creative process? When seen as part of the entire creative process, which begins with the question "What do I want to create?" actions become not just "a thing done," but a tangible expression of choice.
In her seminal work, Drawing on the Artist Within, Betty Edwards summarizes the phases of the creative process, and identifies whether they require predominantly Right or Left mode thinking (R-mode or L-mode). To illustrate Rhythmic Processing her summary is paraphrased along with examples of activities that apply to each phase.
First Insight
A challenge presents itself in the context of our professional or personal life, either spontaneously or delegated. Our response is largely R-mode activity. We ask the key question: "What do I want to create?" We look at the overall challenge, and determine what we know and what information might be missing. This kind of thinking could be done on the ride to and from work, while mowing the lawn or performing other non-value-added tasks.
Saturation
This is where information is gathered, categorized, analyzed. This phase is largely conscious, and typified by L-mode thinking. You might have a few projects that are in this phase. You might be putting together a marketing strategy for your business. While you wrestle with the details of these projects, you may have others that you are "up to here" with. You’ve done all the data gathering and L-mode thinking you can, and you’re stuck. It’s time for those projects to go into the next phase. Activities you’re tempted to put off because they’re "not important" or "not urgent." It’s in allowing the R-mode to work its magic that you’ll get to the most innovative, actionable results.
Incubation
Once you have literally saturated yourself with data, your conscious mind hits a "brick wall." It is now time to hand the reins back over to subconscious, R-mode thinking. The best thing to do is to set this particular project aside, and give it no conscious thought. This phase might last a few days, weeks or months, depending on the scope of the challenge. We often fail to start long-term, complex projects that have meaning to us because we feel we won’t have time to complete them. The Saturation phase can take a lot of time and devoted effort, but once you get a project of magnitude to a certain point, you will necessarily have to put it aside to incubate, thereby allowing other activities to take place. An awareness of the rhythms of the creative process can free us up to dance with our dreams.
Illumination
The famous "Aha!" moment, is only possible after the period of incubation, where the R-mode has had a chance to synthesize the data you’ve collected. This kind of insight can’t be forced, though you may be tempted. Remember that not all your projects will be in this stage at the same time, and take advantage of the R-mode inducing activities you're tempted to put off because they're not important or urgent. It's allowing the R-mode to work its magic that produces the richest results.
Implementation
Many of us feel most comfortable in this phase, because it feels like we’re "in control" again; we’re "doing something." Projects still in the incubation phase can bubble away while you begin to test and implement the ideas your R-mode has been providing in the Illumination phase.
This is not a linear model; the phases of creativity are actually a cycle that repeats itself over and over. When you begin to structure your work in accordance with this rhythmic, creative cycle, you will find yourself:
-in tune with your own creativity
-"juggling" multiple projects
-producing more robust results
-getting more done with less teeth-gritting effort
Creative effectiveness relies on ample creative downtime. Write your current and potential projects a Post-it or an index card. On a large piece of paper, make a representation of the creative process, and begin to map your projects against it. Think about your routine activities and how they might be used to encourage R-mode thinking. Then catch 40 winks!
For more information: contact Carolyn Sullivan, Owner of Carolyn J. Sullivan & Associates at (615) 876-8850 or e-mail: cjsassoc@telalink.net