Creativity

[sadavis00]

I currently having a tug of war between my job and my creativity. In short, the problem is that my creative work, which is music composition, always suffers when I start work. I have noticed that those "epithanies" when turn normal beats into "catchy" tunes, don't seem to happen when my mind is preoccupied with my job. And its not just music composition, its also those great new ideas that come when your mind is uncluttered. I am starting to wonder if discipline and hard work numbs the mind and makes it unreceptive to innovation. This is not a simple question that I expect anyone to have an answer to. But I think innovation is the spice of life, and so I am struggling with what I need to do so life doesn't become bland.

[skydust]

it could have to do with that you are using different sides of your brain for either task and might find it difficult to switch.. maybe you can try relaxing and visualising just before you want to make music, to make the switch.

[SamBeaven]

I think you were closer with your first thought, that "those great new ideas that come when your mind is uncluttered", rather than hard work eroding creativity. I have my best ideas when walking or in the showe, tasks that can be done by rote and let the brain wander off in all kinds of interesting directions. Meditation and clearing your mind (or getting it as clear as you can) should help, or you could try exercise to help you switch gears.

[Dating Specialist]

Well as a blogger, I realised that many ideas and inspiration always seem to come at the most unexpected times. Instead of having to remember them why not bring a small notepad and jot them down anytime some melodies flash past your head?

As much as creativity is unrestrained, maybe there is a way to categorise them so that when it's time to sit down and expand the raw ideas you'll be much more productive.

Maybe you can test it out. Good luck!

[RT Wolf]

I'm surprised no one mentioned this. I don't know the nature of your work, but Getting Things Done might help. I've found that after a weekly review, my mind becomes a lot more clear and creative. Another thing that helps to set clear lines between work and play. So that when I'm not at work, I'm totally at play, being carefree and relaxed.

[Athena]

sadavis, I think I understand what you mean-- Is your job something that you find is in your spirit's calling, and meaningful to your life's purpose? I have that same feeling that music and art and creativity flows best from our minds when our spirits are free.

If your work is at all mundane or puts your mind in a box, then it can put your mind into a totally different mode and can dampen creativity. I don't believe that simply separating your 'job' from your creativity in a time schedule can free your mind, but rather separating completely from whatever you find is not meaningful to your true purpose will free your mind. That should allow for your mind to be in the magic realm, and better let your creativity flow.

Practically speaking, if you find a stronger calling to creative work, then that's what your work should be devoted to, rather than trying to split your mind and energy into mundane work and creative work.

makes sense?

[John Hill]

I don't think you have anything to worry about as the good thing is you are getting bouts of inspiration, sometimes they come when you are relaxed and that's great because you can capitalize on them at these times. Sometimes they come when you are busy with your job, the reason this happens is because your music is so important to you that although you may be spending time working on your regualar job consciously, your subconscious mind however is still working on your music goals. Your subsconscious is so powerful that it pushes these bouts of inspiration into your conscious mind at random times when you may be busy doing other things like working.

What's happening to you is actually a good thing, it means you have impregnated your subconscious mind so deeply with your urge to create music that it keeps forcing new ideas into you conscious mind every chance it gets.

Good luck with the music,
John

[Steve Pavlina]

Interesting... I just posted a new blog entry called My Experience of Creativity, and then I noticed this thread.

I've been making a living from creative work for most of my adult life, and I'd find it very hard to succeed if I had a full-time job. It would be way too much of a distraction.

Personally if I were forced to chose between doing creative work and getting a job to support myself, I'd rather go homeless for a while and do my creative work from a park bench with pen and paper. While I'm creating something, I'd forget I was homeless anyway.