Episode 103: 4 Habits That Foster Creativity

Finding Your Groove With Kathleen Thompson

Creativity isn’t something you either have or don’t have. And believe it or not, you were born creative. On this episode in our Artisan Series, we’re talking about 4 habits you can develop that will help your creativity to flourish.

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On This Episode

Rhythm of Life – Finding the Words, a Song Update
Random Riffs – Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Feature Segment – 4 Habits that Foster Creativity

Today’s Quote

If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die. –Maya Angelou

Rhythm of Life – Finding the Words – a song update

You heard on the last episode how I was struggling to find the right words for a song I was writing? As of the last episode, the only thing I had that I liked was part of the chorus. The third line was predictable and had to go.

I had tried to write the bridge, and that was even worse. 4 of the 5 pages of failed attempts were the words to the bridge.

So I took a different approach. I asked myself, “What are the circumstances at the beginning of the song? And then, what has to happen to move me to where I am at the chorus?” That got me thinking more about the arc of the storyline and less about the words. Then it was a matter of choosing words that rhymed, fit the rhythm of the melody, and were easy to understand.

While all that was going on, I went from 5 pages of notes to 17. It was painful at times. Fun at others. And always an adventure. I didn’t know where I’d end up. And the journey was interesting. I saw that I can actually edit my own work pretty ruthlessly to get to a better result. It was a great exercise.

I learned some lessons while I wrote this song that you can hear when you listen to the episode. And apply them when you have to make a speech or presentation.

If you want to hear my songs as I record them, go to my YouTube channel.

Random Riffs – Baby, It’s Cold Outside

I don’t know why this song keeps getting recorded. Because have you ever really listened to the words?

Let’s see…..

1. She wants to go home. He’s trying to force her to stay. Kidnapping? Entrapment? At least – coercion.
2. He tried to get her drunk. And she suspects that he spiked it with something even stronger to eliminate her possible resistance.
3. She says no, and he won’t take it for an answer. He does the opposite.

In the era of #metoo, or even when you use common sense, would you sing this song? Play it? One radio station eliminated it from their playlist just before I recorded this episode.

There’s nothing wrong with showing respect for people who often don’t get it. Like women. People of color. People with disability. Jesus did it all the time. With tax collectors. Prostitutes. Blind people and lepers.

Maybe 2019 will be the year we turn #metoo into #respectforall. And why not start right now?

Feature Segment – The Artisan Life: 4 Habits that Foster Creativity

Today is the first episode in our Artisan Series to focus on creativity. Since the work revolution will mean that the best work goes to artisans, and artisans need craftsmanship and creativity, the more you can develop your creative muscle the better. And the cool thing is that this is a skill you can develop. It’s not just meant for certain artist types.

Here are 4 habits you can practice to develop your creativity.

1. Sleep

Sleep-deprivation is ubiquitous in the United States. And yet driving while sleep-deprived can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. The problem is we can always just fix it. We can only encourage sleep by practicing good sleep hygiene.

There are tons of resources to help you get more and better quality sleep. And if they don’t work, you can see a professional like I did.

To develop and sustain optimal creativity, get at least 7 hours sleep per night.

2. Notice your body’s rhythm

Daniel Pink in his book When says that certain times of day are optimal for certain activities. He cites some norms, and then advises that you test your own work to determine your own rhythms.

Related to that are the work/break methods to help you focus.

Pomodoro Technique – 25 minutes of work and then either a 3-5 minute or 15-30 minute break.

52/17 Rule – detailed in The Muse.

3. Practice creative thinking in ways unrelated to work.

Also from Daniel Pink in his book A Whole New Mind. He recommends paying attention to design and writing down your observations.

There are other ways too. Listen to the episode to hear suggestions.

A great example of someone who practiced this technique was Victor Borge, the comic pianist. Here’s a short YouTube clip of a classic bit.

4. Practice Gratitude

Gratitude builds positivity. It frees your creative mind. It doesn’t so much matter how. What matters is that you do it. Regularly. As a practice. Habit.

Creativity can be elusive. It needs space to work. It unfolds like a flower. You can encourage its growth by practicing the 4 habits.

One of the things that creates the most meaningful life is when you exercise your creativity with and for other people.

I can’t wait to see what you make. If you have any ideas about what it might be, leave a comment.

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Creativity doesn’t perform on command. It unfolds like a flower.
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Artisan Series

090: Why You Should Be an Artisan at Work
091: The Three C's of Artisanship
092: Are You a Creator, Consumer, or Critic?
093: Where to Start as an Artisan? With a MAP.
094: What's Your Signature Scent?
095: The Foundations of Craftsmanship
096: Follow Your Curiosity to Build Craftsmanship
097: Craftsmanship Requires Change
098: Building Craftsmanship – When it Gets Hard
099: Building Craftsmanship – Take Care of Your Tools
101: Building Craftsmanship – Be an Apprentice
102: Building Craftsmanship – Practice

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