New to Pickles And Doughnuts?
The "Island of Pickles and Doughnuts" is a metaphor for a life of habit and convention. It was originally used in my book The Power of Thinking Differently. You can learn more here: Interview | Book Excerpt
Courtesy of 铁蛋骑士 (www.flickr.com/photos/knightfeg/)
Many associate the term closely with the loss of a job. From there it may even be associated with the loss of money, then loss of identity, then loss of meaning in your life. — Yikes! That’s heavy.
However, a layoff can also just mean taking a break. This just happens to be a very crucial phase of the creative process. If you’re struggling to find a creative idea or creative solution to your problem, the answer may be a mental layoff. Or, as I like to call it, a self-imposed “creative layoff.”
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One of the biggest obstacles to the creative process is our fear of mistakes.
Many of us grow up learning that it is bad to be wrong and incorrect. We are taught that mistakes are useless errors that should be minimized.
The result is that many people are unwilling to explore their own creativity because the fear of making a mistake is so ingrained in their psychology.
Creativity is about exploration and trying new things. By it’s very nature, creativity will lead us to come up with many ideas that don’t necessarily work. However, we are more likely to find creative ideas that do if we allow ourselves the freedom to cast a wide enough net.
Have you seen how many academic papers Einstein wrote that explored “incorrect” ideas? Have you looked at a sketch artist’s scratch pad to see all of the ideas that “didn’t work?”
Still don’t believe me? Ask Google. read more…
Lessons in Creative Living: Creative Writer J.J. Abrams and Experiencing The Inherent Mystery of The World
For some, over time, the world becomes monotone, dull, and no longer enchanting. However, when we realize that our dominant perceptions are only one out of an infinite number of possible perceptions, the world becomes anew.
When we can accept the inherent mystery of the world, it becomes vibrant and alive.
It is for this reason that in my talks I often emphasize how creative thinking enables people to enliven their world, since it enables people to access the multiplicity of perspectives inherent in every moment. It is also why I began my book by addressing this notion. read more…
