Struggling with writer’s block?
Having trouble tapping into your creative mind?
Well, it might just take a little bit more mindfulness.
Creativity helps us generate new and meaningful ideas, guiding us to solve problems or produce works of art. In turn, getting creative improves our mood, boosts our confidence, and even reduces stress or anxiety.
And yes, practicing mindfulness can help us tap into our creativity.
So, how does this work?
And how can you enhance your creativity through mindful practices?
How Does Mindfulness Increase Creativity?
When it comes to creativity, flexibility of thought is necessary to expand our minds and move beyond our everyday thoughts and toward new ideas.
It helps spark “divergent thinking,” allowing us to come up with various solutions and explore them as opposed to thinking there is only “one correct answer.”
This flexibility also allows us to shed the idea that discovering solutions or paths has to be a step-by-step process. This allows us to gain insights and discover solutions or ideas based on these insights, which the analytical mind is not able to figure out. (As we all know, creativity, sometimes, isn’t logical!).
Here’s the other thing:
Mindfulness is associated with improved executive functioning and increased connectivity in the brain. Meanwhile, creativity involves the coordination of this executive functioning area with other parts of the brain.
This is another reason becoming more mindful might just help you get those creative juices flowing; It improves the function of the part of the brain required for it!
Lastly, mindfulness helps reduce stress, which can block our creative function. Stress puts us in fight-or-flight mode, where our bodies and minds are merely trying to survive.
Creativity isn’t necessary for survival. But by dissipating stress, we can foster a state of calm that allows us to tap into our creativity.
Related Article: Mindful Living: 4 Helpful Ways to Calm Your Mind & Keep it From Racing
What Are the Benefits of Creative Mindfulness?
It’s not all about “creating.” Vietnamese monastic Thich Nhat Hanh, also known as the “Father of Mindfulness,” says,
“With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to touch the wonders of life that are available at that moment.”
Creative mindfulness attaches us to the present, the right now.
It allows us to be and do without consequences of the past or future. All that matters is here and now and the process involved in this moment, allowing us to let go of anchors that don’t reflect that.
Creative mindfulness involves this present time.
- It improves our attention and focus in the moment.
- It gives way to imagination and visualization.
It’s even thought to improve our emotional intelligence and problem-solving capabilities, since we’re better able to empathize and approach problems from a new standpoint.
How to Apply Mindfulness to Enhance Creativity
Becoming more mindful is something we can do throughout our daily lives.
For instance, we can be more mindful when we eat by simply focusing on each bite and not allowing any distractions, such as our phone, TV, or work.
We can also try to keep our thoughts within the present moment as we go about the day, as well as turn to mindfulness tactics when stress gets the best of us (as it inevitably does from time to time!).
However, if you want to sit down and get creative but feel as though something is blocking you, here’s how you can get over that hurdle and dive in.
1. Perform a Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation helps us explore and bring out attention to this moment, right here and right now. It’s almost a way to prime your mind before digging into a creative task or activity.
So, take a few minutes before you need to harness that creativity or before brainstorming.
Sit and set a timer, and simply focus on your breathing. Alternatively, there are many mindfulness meditations on YouTube and meditation phone apps, like Headspace or Insight Timer.
Related Article: How You Can Master Meditation: The Calming Art of Mindfulness
2. Practice Deep Breathing
If you’re facing a block in your creativity, try pausing for a moment as opposed to trying harder.
Similar to meditation, focus on your breathing and strive to take deep and slow inhalations that fill your entire chest and belly (Counting to four for your inhale and exhales can help a lot here!). Take at least five to 10 breaths, then see how you feel.
Can you approach your problem from a new perspective?
3. Do a “Brain Dump”
Sometimes, life is chaotic, leaving us stressed, worried, fearful, and anxious. Simply “letting go” often doesn’t help in these situations.
So, instead, try a brain dump. This means grabbing a piece of paper (or your phone) and writing everything that comes to mind down.
- What’s worrying you?
- What do you fear?
Once it’s all on paper, you should feel a release. You’ve let it out.
Maybe you need to organize yourself a bit so you don’t forget some information; If this is the case, do that now! After you’re organized, you should feel as though you can tap into the present moment easier and get creative.
4. Quit Overthinking!
All of the above can help with this, but so can a quick reminder. We can only control what we can control. What is outside of our control is beyond what we need to be concerned about, as we can’t do anything about it (or at least we can’t until it happens). Keep these in mind as you attempt to fuel mindfulness creativity.
Start Producing More Meaningful Work By Becoming More Mindful
Mindfulness isn’t just about what we produce but also about our own mental well-being. It can help us break through walls and help us foster harmony within our lives. Use the strategies above to become more mindful and creative.
The two, undeniably, go hand-in-hand, offering a pathway to tap into our present moment, which truly is all we have!
Read Next: Your Ultimate Mindfulness Guide: Become More Happy and Less Stressed
Editor’s note: This article was originally published Apr 21, 2023 and has been updated to improve reader experience.
Photo By: Kaboompics.com
