Micro-Reframe #9

Revive: Returning to Creative Pursuits

I realised when I sat to write this reframe that I could have called this portion rediscovery, so I invite you to choose the word which feels most resonant with your present experience.

Revival or rediscovery or re-invigoration — or perhaps another word. This is your replenishment journey. Hack and customise it to fit you.

This reframe is about returning to a creative life or your creative expression.

For many of us, our creative lives are put indefinitely on hold.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes writes in Women Who Run With the Wolves:

“A woman must be careful to not allow over-responsibility (or over-respectabilty) to steal her necessary creative rests, riffs, and raptures. She simply must put her foot down and say no to half of what she believes she "should" be doing. Art is not meant to be created in stolen moments only.”

As we'll explore, creativity gives more than it will ever take.

Before we jump to creative expression, I want to start at generative practices and activities.

Generative Activities and Practices

Generative practices foster space for new things to emerge — even if they completely unrelated to anything work or creativity wise.

Anyone who’s ever had an idea come to them in the shower or out driving or folding washing knows this. And the quiet thrill of it. (Well at least for me).

Revival and rediscovery begin with a toe dip into intentional generative activities.

Not because a creative practice is pointless without new ideas, but because generative activities are small, doable re-entry points … that are generously and conveniently scattered through everyday life.

Our mundane activities become TARDIS like - bigger and more complex than they appear on the outside.

My former writing partner used to say his best ideas came when he was washing the dishes at night. We dubbed it sudspiration.

When we combine things in this way — we do the impossible — we stretch time. And anyone whose been lost in a generative space knows how it has the capacity to warp the usual speed and experience of time.

So that’s the starting point.


Creativity and the Stress Response Cycle

Emily and Amelia Nagasaki in their book BurnOut: solve your stress cycle list a number of activities that end the stress response cycle (imperative in situations where the stressor might not change, but the body’s capacity to process and reset from the stress is essential.)

The first six are as follows

* Exercise (we touch on this in allostatic load)
* Breathing (strongly linked back to the nervous system)
* Crying and laughter (both potent reset and recharge activities)
* Positive social interactions and affection (which we’ll touch on next week in self and others.

The final is creative expression.

Amelia and Emily note that creative expression builds energy, enthusiasm and excitement. All of which we take forward into life.

Perhaps most importantly, they highlight that creative spaces not only make room, but actively encourage big emotions.

And who wouldn’t like a little extra room for all the feelings?


What The Science Says

The science shows that engaging in a creative practice:

* supports improved problem solving and critical thinking

* relieves anxiety and stress

* improves fine motor skills

* is an excellent mood modulator

* has a positive effect on the immune system, including reducing inflammation.


The Gifts of Creativity

Here’s what I think creative expression and generative practices gift us

* a liminal space to rest and recharge in

* an alternate space to sink into and explore

* presence and flow (both highly regarded mental states)

* a focal point beyond ourselves, and whatever is going on in my our lives

* something new/different/ unique to think about and feel into

* a moving meditation, especially if your creative expression involves the use of tools or your body

* an emotional and mental upswing, especially after

* curiosity

* expansion

* a "sneaky", but potent, form of both conscious and unconscious processing and healing.

* an uncomplicated sense of achievement and completion.

* a unique kind of high (or maybe that’s just me.


What’s The Way Back In?

It starts with a commitment to return.

Next you need to portion your time into gentle and sensible increments.

Five minutes of continuous line drawing every day, will ultimately be more refilling than waiting months for a whole day to paint.

The important thing to note here is something creative, anything creative, is better than nothing.

Decide the best or easiest part of your day to show up to your creativity ... and do it.

An evening creative practice will support down regulation and the completion of the stress response cycle.

Alternatively a morning or mid afternoon practice may give you a delightful upward bump.

Maya Angelou said it perfectly:

You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.

It makes creativity a stellar template for Replenishment.


Reflection

1. What is (or was) your creative rest? Your creative riff? Your creative rapture?

2. Where do ideas find you? How do you (can you) tap inspiration?

3. What new creative outlet would you love to explore?

Emergency Triage

Brain/Eye Rest

This practice falls under the umbrella of Kaplan's Attention Restoration Theory.

Find somewhere to sit that's:

* quiet

* comfortable

* where you won't be interrupted/disturbed, and

* you can see nature

1. Set a timer for 5 minutes.

2. Sit and observe the natural world.

3. Increase the time you sit there, with an aim to sit for 30 minutes.

PositivePsychology.com states: It has been reliably reported that the natural environment is the most effective in renewing our resources, due to the process of increasing effortless reflection.

(This was the most effective tool from me in 2021, to bring my nervous system back from the brink of chronic and perpetual panic. My panic was so bad, I would have the first wave of panic before I was even fully conscious each morning.)