Creativity Does the practice of Mindfulness help ?

Creativity

• If we knew what it was we were doing,

it would not be called research, would

it ?

• Any one who has not made a mistake,

has never tried anything new.

• Creativity is seeing what everyone

else has seen and thinking what no

one else has thought

Creativity

• Your Subtopic Goes Here

Creative Process

• Preparation

– Define and distill the problem

• Incubation

– Internalize into sub-conscious mind

• Insight

– Sudden flash of creativity, …dreams

• Verification

– Validating the insight

Factors that promote/hinder

Creativity

Factors that promote Creativity

• Domain knowledge – Learn the rules before you set to break them

• Widen knowledge base – cross domain

knowledge – Synthesize ideas from more than one domain

• Observe : creativity in nature – Metaphors and similes

Factors that promote Creativity

• Patience , endurance

• No fear of failure – willingness to take risks

• Less intellectual rigidity – appreciation of changeful nature of perception

• Less bothered about self-image – willingness to discuss ‘stupid’ ideas

Factors that promote Creativity

• Beginners Mind : child like curiosity

• Non-striving : let go and relax!

• Equanimity

• Compassion

Factors that hinder Creativity

• Cognitive Rigidity

• Anxiety , emotional imbalance

• Self-consciousness

• Mental Chatter

Meditation and Creativity

Mindfulness

Emotions

Thoughts Mindfulness

Body : postures,

Activities,

movements,

sensations

Moment

by moment

Non-

judgmental

Open

curiosity

Feelings

Perceptions

Non-

reactive

Being

Consciously

aware of

Studies on Meditation and Creativity

• Meditation helps creativity in following

ways

– Increased concentration , less digressive

thoughts

– Observing things as they are

– Increased self-confidence; reduced fear

and anxiety

Studies on Meditation and Creativity

• Meditation helps creativity in following

ways

– Reduced self-consciousness

– Helps learn the art of letting go

– Creates conditions for insight

– Increased compassion

Studies on Meditation and Creativity

• Brain activity during divergent thinking tasks is very

similar to activity during mental relaxation

• Most of us use only the left hemisphere of brain

associated with analytical, rational and logical

processing, while the right hemisphere associated

with abstract thought, non verbal awareness, visual

& spatial perception etc. is rarely used.

• Practicing mindfulness help us shift towards right

brain mode so that the capability of the whole brain

is utilized.

Latest research in

Meditation & Creativity

• Colzato et.al. Leiden Univ., Netherlands,

Frontiers of Psychology, 2012

• Studied the impact of FA and OM meditation on

divergent thinking & Creativity

• FA : No effect [focussed attention]

• OM : Increases creativity [open monitoring]