A look into the creative process and why it's not straight forward
Have you ever had a light bulb moment while in the shower, driving, or working out, etc? Do you ever wonder why your best ideas seemingly come from out of nowhere? There is a reason for that. Numerous studies have shown how “downtime” can improve creativity and innovation.
The Art of Thought, by Graham Wallas, lists 5 stages of the creative process:
Preparation stage (Research, gathering materials, brainstorm)
Incubation stage (downtime time)
Illumination stage (Ideas and sparked and solutions come together)
Evaluation stage (Reflection, does the concept align with the vision)
Verification stage (Create product, finalize, and share)
The incubation stage is where we allow ourselves to go inward and slow down our brains can make creative connections, problem solve, and illuminate new ideas.
The fast pace of life today and demand for instant gratification can feel overwhelming at times. The constant flow of information from TV, phones, social media - leaves little space for connections to happen naturally. Even our naturally built-in downtime aka sleep, can generate outlandish dreams and ideas.
Input or the "preparation" stage, also plays a part in creativity; reading, research, listening to music, viewing art, having a conversation with someone - all generate input so you can create output.
Trying to force creative ideas or focusing on expectations will only create a block. The creative process can be messy before it makes sense, but when inspiration strikes, get to work!
So, when you feel stuck, take a break, do something active, and see how you feel.
What are some of the things you like to do to unblock the flow of creativity? Comment below and share.
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