Archive for year: 2017

Have you ever stared at a white piece of paper or an empty computer screen knowing that you should now be creating? Words should now be appearing in front of you like water flowing from a tap. It might be an essay, an assignment, report, thesis, or the latest crime thriller, but right now your mind is completely blank. We call this writer’s block. We have become creatively stuck. It’s as though there is nothing there. No thoughts, no ideas, no dreams, the creative cupboard is just empty. We need inspiration. We need to find our muse. Writers block is really just one facet of creative constipation. The creative channel has become blocked, clogged, there is no flow.

For Michael Angelo to reveal the statue of David from a block of marble he had to first hold the image of David in his creative mind. Had he not been able to see that image then nothing would have happened, he would not have even bothered to pick up his hammer and chisel and get to work. Or, Leonardo DaVinci taking up his brushes to paint the Mona Lisa. Or, indeed the creators of Stone Henge or the Pyramids. It all starts with an image. Before we can strike the first blow of the chisel, the first stroke of the brush, the first line with a pencil, the first letter with the pen or the first pressed computer key we need an image. We need to have some idea of our starting point though we may not be clear of the end point. The image is the direction in which our efforts will go.

Problem solving
For most people the expression of creativity is really them enacting their ability to solve problems, which, by the way, we all have. Problem solving comes in many forms.

We might consider the act of getting a man on the moon, a massive and concerted collective effort of creativity. From the image that it is possible, the understanding of the astronomy, the rocket, the fuel, the trajectory, the science, right down to the last nut and bolt are all the results of human creativity in action.

Can you make a cup of tea?
If the answer is ‘yes’ then consider your self a creative genius. The ability to make a cup of tea begins with an image. The image is turned into a creative process and the end result of which is a cup of tea. Sometimes your tea will be good and sometimes not so good depending on your ability to enact the creative process.

When we are unable to solve problems whether it is great art, music, science, literature, DIY, personal relationships, social equality, political union, or the ability to feed the world and live in peace we are suffering from ‘creative block’ we have become creatively constipated.

Overcoming creative constipation
Creativity is not a simple single event, it is not the simple expression of an image or idea, creativity is a seven stage process. Most people fail to be creative because at some point in the creative processes they are blocked. So, let’s have a look at the process.

1: Inspiration
A creative image is the urge, the desire to get creative and produce something, and it begins with feeling inspired. The key here is in the word ‘feeling’. You can feel inspiration but you can’t think inspiration. When we are inspired it is by an image that is generated internally or externally. The great orators, Martin Luther King, Churchill and even Hitler were able to share images so powerful that they inspired millions of people to act and even die in pursuit of the image. Advertising is about creating inspirational images of products that will seduce people to go and buy them. Whatever the endeavour the act of creativity begins with the image.

Action: If you are stuck and cannot find your muse or feel no inspiration take a break, stop doing what isn’t working, read, watch and listen but most importantly stop trying to force it. Most inspiration drops into your awareness, it pops out of the blue, it may present itself while we are in the shower or walking the dog. The trick is when inspiration calls do something about it, act. In action we activate the creative process, when we fail to act our creativity simply withers on the vine.

2: The Implications
Let’s assume that you have a clear image, you can feel the inspiration and feel ready to get going with it, now is the time to ask the question what effect will your creative endeavour have on you, on other people, on the world around you or even on the future of mankind. When Einstein created the maths that led to the splitting of the atom his image was one of limitless power for all. He did not consider the implications that his work would lead to the creation of the atomic bomb that was eventually dropped on Hiroshima and is the basis of the current stand off between the USA and North Korea. When we act creatively it has an effect large or small. What when enacted will your creative image have on others? The implications maybe all good and positive creating a win win with those around you. In most cases for someone to win there will be losers. If your image involves taking a job in the evening to raise some cash it may effect your partner or family. Many creative ideas fail at this point because the implications have not been truly considered.

Action: To ensure the free flow of your creativity check out the implications. Share your image with other people and see whether they have other ideas that may help you adapt it and maybe make it better or more effective. Most importantly if you share you image with those people that it will effect they may give you their support as well, your image may inspire them.

3: The plan
The next common point of failure is lack of planning. As the say “fail to plan and you plan to fail”. You have shaped your image and created the inspiration, you have considered the implications and effects on others, okay, so how are you going to do it what is the plan? Where will you do it? Do you need a particular space, a room, a desk, an office a factory? What equipment do you need? What systems do you need to run your image? Time to create your plan. If you struggle with planning try this.

Action: Forward basing.
This is best done in a large room, but you could use post-it notes on a table. At one end of the room Blu-tack some paper on the wall and write a statement of your current position/situation on it. At the other end of the room put up paper and write a statement about your goal, the fulfilment of the image or it might be the completion of the first stage, if you have a large project. Now, use the space between these two statements laying out pieces of paper that are the steps that need to be taken that will get you from where you are to where you need to be. This process may take sometime and even some days or weeks if the steps need some research or verification. Once you have a clear plan in place, remembering that it is not set in stone and can be adapted as needed, run a time line along the side wall. A time line indicates how long it will take to get from one wall to the other and at what point in the time line does each step need to be completed. Okay, now you have a plan.

4: Resourcing
Next point of failure is lack of resources. Often this is the money required to get the equipment, premises or for support while the project gets going. It may simply be that you need a computer and do not have the cash. Sometimes the greatest resource that we need is time. This may mean getting someone to look after the kids, reducing your working week to part time or simply making it clear to family and friends that you are working and do not want to be disturbed.

Action: List all the resources that you will need and at what stage in your plan you will need them. Consider how you can fund these resources. Are there people who can offer you help? If you need to approach a money source such as investors or a bank you will require to formalise your plan into a business plan. Many banks have kits to help you do this or local chambers of commerce can be helpful.

5: Testing
You have a clear image, you have worked through any implications of enacting it, the plan is clear and understood and is now fully resourced, time to check if it works. If your image is to be a writer start writing, if it is production do a test run, if it is as a performer do a performance. Whatever your image test you plan. Does it work?

Action: Make or enact your first creation, observe it, if necessary check it with other people, does it work? Often this is a good time to use focus groups and do the market research. This is the time when the testing can show the need to adjust the image, vary the plan, or take into account unseen implications or the need for extra funding or resources.

6: Time to get on with it
This bit of the creative process is sometimes termed ‘the vital energy’ that is needed to really make it happen. Up to this point the process has remained, in some ways, theoretical, now it is the real thing. Lots of people have fabulous ideas, ideas that could have really changed the world, they plan and play all kinds of games in preparation for the big event that never happens. This final push is the final stage in the creative process. It is the real enacting of the original image. For big projects it may be the final phase of staffing the production team and making the production work. For smaller projects just get on with it.

Action: Do it.

7: Congratulations
So here you are with the finished book, jumper, meal, widget or whatever, in your hands. You are now officially a creative genius. You have taken an inspired image right through the creative process to actual creation. Pat on the back time. Looking at what you have achieved you may now need to develop it and look at the second iteration.

Action: Okay, so now that you are officially a creative genius what is you next project?

If we could develop the clear inspirational image of peace and happiness perhaps we could create heaven on earth right now?

Take care and create your own happiness

Sean x

This week a listener emailed and was asking for advice on how they could help support their partner who had been having a few problems. It can be hard to give a simple answer to such questions without seeing the partner, or the couple face to face in person or online, but it gave Ed and I plenty to think about and talk about.

When I was thinking about it the first thing that occurred to me was how many people, who come to see me, are actually talking about the problems of another person, usually their partner. Or more specifically how their partner’s problems are effecting them. In such cases the drive to help the partner also involves the drive to help them self.

Listening
We all need support and that involves both listening and sharing. In psycho speak we talk about active listening which is a whole size bigger than simply listening. In actively listening we are looking for the meaning behind the words and the relationship between words used and the associated body language. If someone says ‘yes’ while shaking their head there is something wrong.,

Reflective listening might be just checking out what your partner meant by maybe paraphrasing what they just said to check that you did actually hear correctly what they said. Mirroring is saying back to the person the same words that they used to you. This can be annoying if done insensitively, however it does give your partner the chance to hear what they just said and perhaps see the true meaning in what they are saying. Let’s say your partners says “I want to end it all” the mirrored response might simply be “You want to end it all?”. The fact that it has now become a question requires an answer or explanation.

Sharing
Listening is one half of a transaction, sharing is the other half. If in a relationship both parties understand the positive effect of both listening and sharing then everyone’s needs have a good chance of being met. Willingness to share may involve personal vulnerability. It may also be affected by what it is that we feel is right or appropriate to share. Certainly some of the things that I deal with I would never share because they may be too difficult or even horrendous and require a professional relationship to be dealt with. In a general sense when there is permission in a relationship to share difficult issues or feelings this can be bonding just as not sharing can drive people apart.

Supporting
It all depends on the issue. If your partner is feeling down, or is having a tough time at work or with the kids a simple chat might just crack it. If the problems of feeling down are developing greater levels of depression or anxiety professional help or even medication may be required.

Generalised support
Let’s assume that all is well and together as a partnership we are dealing with the normal everyday stresses of modern day living, what do we need to be doing for each other? Support for me means appreciation, gratitude, being helpful and doing what you can for each other, covering each other’s backs and trying not to do things that undermine each other.

Time together time apart
For me time together is a vital part of my relationship. We go away quite a lot so that we can just be together. Some couples that I work with like to spend time apart perhaps going on holidays on their own or with other people. I guess it is whatever works for you as a couple and if you don’t ask you don’t know.

Fun
Fun and laughter are great therapy. Couples that laugh together stay together, or perhaps families that laugh together stay together. What is fun for you as an individual? What is fun for you as a couple? What is fun for you as a family? Having fun is often a choice. On the basis that what you feed grows and what you starve dies we can make those things that happen to us into ever bigger problems or they can become challenges and learning opportunities. Changing what can be tough situations into positive ones is a skill, but we can all develop it.

Helping your partner
So, let’s say that your partner is going through tough stuff, maybe they are depressed or suffering anxiety, perhaps they have lost their job or are suffering grief and bereavement, whatever it is and what other help they are getting we can still be supportive.

Develop a plan, agree a gentle push to help them get going again. Encourage them to talk and do things and develop positive coping strategies.

Tone down the stressors, reduce those things that they find most stressful and difficult, simplify life.

Move, the healing power of simply getting some exercise, even a slow walk around the block can energise your body and in turn energise your mind.

If you feel overwhelmed by it all get help. Your partner may need therapy to deal with their issues but you may also need therapy to help you deal with your partner.

Take care and be happy

Sean x

This weeks podcast and blog has been inspired by a listener who directed me to an article about a little girl who had died. They pointed out how many people she helped to live by the donation of her organs. This was a hot and difficult topic for the listener as they are now in a similar situation where a relative close to them will shortly die. Their family are currently discussing the rightness or wrongness of donating organs. Their discussion also raised the issue of the rights of the family versus the donor. Should the family have a say in someone’s decision to become an organ donor. They suggested that Ed and I do a podcast to look at this difficult issue. I started asking people, checking some services and ideas online. The first issue seems to be is it right or wrong?

So, is it right to give part of your body to another person? Some people who become donors donate their body once they are dead while others do so while they are still alive giving away a kidney, bone marrow, eggs and semen, blood and so on. The whole issue raises so many questions. The main one being just because we can do something should we?

Would you be a recipient?
Ok, so would you accept an organ from a donor? Would you accept a blood transfusion?
As a lot of these issues are so personal I have put in quite a few links, some about people who have actually had the transplants described. The issues of both accepting and giving body parts hits at the very core of what do we believe, issues of morality and what is right and wrong.

Would you donate?
Would you give an organ? Do you carry a donor card? Sixty two percent of people in Britain do carry a card, while only 4% of us are prepared to give blood? And each year hundreds of people donate their entire body to anatomical and medical science.

It would seem that donating your very skin and bones is the ultimate act of altruism. For many the feeling is that once you are dead you no longer need them and the may as well be recycled. For others a desecration of someone’s remains is the ultimate act of disrespect.

I have worked with people who have been waiting a very long time for a suitable donor and some who have died while waiting due to the lack of suitable donors. I also know someone who chose to donate a kidney to a complete stranger on the basis that they had two and only needed one. They literally just put themselves on the register and eventually a suitable recipient came along.

I have also worked with both heart and liver recipients of transplants who despite their gratitude to the donor experience the development of odd behaviours, habits and cravings, as though the organ brought a certain amount or memory with it. Not all donations are easily received.

Man who rejected donor hands
Even those that do receive an organ or as in the link below a pair of hands are unable to accept and accommodate the gift. This man decided that he would rather have them removed.

Face transplants
It may equally be true of the recipients of another persons face. In this link the man has had an astounding reconstruction. I look in the mirror now and find that the effects of age have changed the person who is looking back leaving me with the question ‘who are you?’ An interesting and educational journey.

Blood transfusions
In the Christian faith Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the Bible says taking blood is wrong and would not accept blood transfusions. Therefore, they would not donate. They also keep their own blood for future transfusion. Many non-Christians would concur and refuse to give or receive blood. For me I am happy to both give and receive blood.

Animal organs – pigs
This a big one. Is it right to create an animal that has been engineered so that its body parts would be acceptable to the human body? Does this raise the issues of animal rights? I guess that if you are happy to eat meat then organs are a byproduct of the same process. For me, as a vegetarian, the idea of breeding an animal to harvest it’s organs is outrageous. But it is a personal issue.

Faecal transplants
This is a very interesting area of research. With the development of neuropsychology the relationship between the gut and our brains and between the gut and our emotional self is being investigated. It seems that we can say ‘happy gut happy brain’. We know that many medications, including antibiotics rip the natural flora out of the gut. This can have many consequences including emotional issues such as depression. Current experiments where faecal matter from people with a health gut/brain is transplanted into those lacking in appropriate flora is showing good results. Have a look at the link below it might open your eyes to the possibilities. How would you feel about having someone else’s faecal matter transferred into your gut?

Donor eggs and sperm
IVF and fertility clinics would not normally be associated with ideas of donation but that is exactly what they are. Even if the couple involved are known to each other and the IVF follows the same route that would have been taken naturally we are still moving bits of one person into another. One thing that concerns me in this area is the idea of designer babies, either to create a certain quality of child or a second child whose blood or umbilical fluids might be used to cure a brother or sister.

Looking at this overall I ask myself again the question ‘just because we can do something should we do it?’ Once we play with the gene pool we are releasing unknown consequences into the future. Lots to think about in this podcast and blog.
Take care and be happy.

Sean x