The Creative Mind

Need a burst of inspiration? Wildly creative thinkers share ideas, strategies and warmhearted encouragement to let your genius out.

"It is in the movements of emotional crisis that human beings reveal themselves most accurately."

"While we refuse to organize the confusions within us we will never have an objective understanding of what is happening outside."

"Today a novelist’s preoccupation with inner psychological distortions does not stem from a morbid love of illness but from a knowledge that this is the theme of our new reality."

Psychologists note that confidence can have negative aspects - and low confidence may have benefits.

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, PhD, is a Professor of Business Psychology at University College London and a visiting Professor at New York University.

A summary of his book Confidence: Overcoming Low Self-Esteem, Insecurity, and Self-Doubt says it “reveals the benefits of low confidence (including being more motivated and self-aware)…” Hear audio interview...

In this first installment of Creation Stories Ricky Gervais shares a doozy about an early indelible writing lesson.

Many researchers and artists say ADHD and other learning differences are forms of neurodiversity that can actually benefit creative expression.

Painter Chuck Close says, “In the 40s or 50s no one knew from learning disabilities; I was just dumb. I learned early on that since I wasn’t athletic, I couldn’t run or throw or catch a ball, I needed to do something to keep people around me. I began to realize that one of the things I could do that my friends couldn’t do was draw.”

Riding Hood After 7 Fairy Tale Pastiches - part 2 Second in a series of 7 Pastiches of Little Red Riding Hood in the style of my favourite authors. Today I give you another retelling of the Red Rid...

If you feel like you know “how creativity REALLY works” don’t read this article – it might kill your vibe.

"The worship of convention will never lead to astonishment." Tama J. Kieves

Many artists and creative leaders in various fields are unconventional, embracing unique thinking, following their own path. Not conforming.

Many actors have an ambivalent attitude about gaining or pursuing celebrity status, and fame can have very negative impacts.

Jennifer Lawrence notes fame is “a dangerous topic” and comments about how assaultive and how much negative impact it can have...

Phil Stutz, Barry Michels talk with Writer / Producer / Actor Adam McKay about the book The Tools: 5 Tools to Help You Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower by Phil Stutz, Barry Michels. http://buff.ly/14PxtgD

Creating images and visualizations of what you want to accomplish can be a powerful strategy for achievement, according to many writers, coaches and research studies.

Actor Dennis Haysbert: “I visualize the roles that I want."

By Eric Maisel, PhD

People often ask me how they can become more creative. By this they mean many different things; even if they meant just one thing, there would still be many different kinds of answers. For one person, the answer might be "worry less." For another person, the answer might be "grow wilder." For a third, it might be "be braver." For a fourth, it might be "somehow find the time."

But whatever else you might need to do, one thing that will help you grow more creative is consciously engaging in new explorations.

"Why instilling admiration for hard work rather than raw talent is the key to fostering a well-adjusted mind."

Stephen Grosz writes: "Nowadays, we lavish praise on our children. Praise, self-confidence and academic performance, it is commonly believed, rise and fall together. But current research suggests otherwise — over the past decade, a number of studies on self-esteem have come to the conclusion that praising a child as ‘clever’ may not help her at school.

"In fact, it might cause her to under-perform. Often a child will react to praise by quitting — why make a new drawing if you have already made ‘the best’? Or a child may simply repeat the same work — why draw something new, or in a new way, if the old way always gets applause?"

His book: The Examined Life: How We Lose and Find Ourselves by Stephen Grosz. http://shrd.by/emTSPf

by Lisa Rivero. 'Historian, educator, and author Ken Bain reminds us that the “why” of learning can be as important as “how.” His book What the Best College Students Do differentiates between three types of learning: surface learning (doing enough memorization to get by), strategic learning (aiming primarily for high grades and honors), and deep learning (autonomous striving for meaning)...'

Creative people may be too aware of problems, and engage in self-blame and criticism, but are often not aware enough of their creative abilities.

There are a number of myths related to developing creativity that psychologist Teresa Amabile (Harvard Business School) has found in her research.

1. Creativity Comes From Creative Types

2. Money Is a Creativity Motivator ...

Rashida Jones has noted, “I am very light-skinned and I don’t look like I have a black parent… I’d show up to a casting and the casting director would be visibly relieved and would tell me: `You don’t really look that black at all’… “I used to take...

Many talented and creative people experience impostor feelings and beliefs about themselves, despite their accomplishments. But those beliefs can change.

Actor Emma Watson commented about impostor feelings:

“It’s almost like the better I do, the more my feeling of inadequacy actually increases, because I’m just going, Any moment, someone’s going to find out I’m a total fraud, and that I don’t deserve any of what I’ve achieved."

Why stop being creative just because you grow up?

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Photo: paint by numbers! - By originallittlehellraiser
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Psychotherapist Barry Michels talks with Erin Cressida Wilson, a playwright, screenwriter, professor, and author known for the 2002 film Secretary. She also wrote the screenplay for the 2006 film Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus. Video clip is from a Google Hangout for the book "The Tools: 5 Tools to Help You Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower" by Phil Stutz, Barry Michels. http://buff.ly/14PxtgD