You Can Make or Destroy Your Creativity
ByA NY Times article today by Perri Klass, M.D. discussed the latest findings on A.D.H.D.
For years many have discounted that it is a real mental disorder. It is most notorious as an affliction of hyperactive boys in elementary school. It has been found that girls suffer the same but are likely to be well behaved so it goes unnoticed.
The detractors would say that it is societal pressure to succeed and be right, plus electronic devices coupled with multi tasking, over scheduling, and over stimulus. Some would say the nature of concentration has changed.
On the other hand there are several practices that could enhance the Anti A.D.H.D. behavior; the anecdote, if you will. The anecdote is needed for creative thinking.
The brain has two spheres that often work independently to create innovation. The left sphere is responsible for rational, logical, calculating and organizational thoughts. The right sphere is responsible for creative, spatial, motor skills, and relational thoughts.
The innovative process as outlined in Jacquelyn Wonder’s book “Whole Brain Thinking” would have you alternating between right and left brain at each stage of the process.
The left brain defines and states the problem. Then the right brain creates the multitude of alternatives and possible solutions. (See also Edward de Bono in “Lateral Thinking”). Then the left brain evaluates all the possible scenarios to select the best ones. Then the right and left brain unite to consolidate and formulate the best solution for the defined problem.
Using one sphere requires suspension of the other sphere. In the modern work day, we are easily seduced into the left brain because we are always calculating, organizing, and scheduling. Suspending the left brain to get to right brain thinking is the trick.
This has to be accomplished by giving the brain a rest and entering monotonous activities. Some of them are meditating, pleasure reading, gardening, car washing, aerobic exercise, sleeping, and house cleaning to name a few.
When the left brain has defined the problem and researched the necessary information, the right brain could find the proper relationship between the two if given time to disconnect from the left. The right brain creates revelations, epiphanies, and ahas!
How do we hamper the proper functioning and coordination of the tasks? We never give the brain time to relax, refresh, and unwind. We spend too much time looking at emails, checking social media sites, checking cell phones and texting, looking at our watch, plugging in ear phones, etc.
All the times that our right brain could be accessing the information we plugged into the left brain, we are filling up our brain memory with busy activities to either give us some adrenaline or keep us from getting bored.
Boredom is the access to the right brain. But it doesn’t have to be boredom. A long walk, a run, a bike ride, a nap, a pleasure book, a hobby, cleaning, sitting in the sun, hiking, or playing with our pet could all lead to left brain suspension and new revelations.
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If you would like to read the NY Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/health/14klass.html?ref=health
If you would like to buy Jacquelyn Wonder’s Book on Whole Brain Thinking
Purchase Edward de Bono’s book on Lateral Thinking
See Robert B Tucker’s book Innovation is Everybody’s Business
If you would like techniques to gain mind control and relax get my free E Book download Healthy, Lean and Happy Forever
