My Relationship Between Curiosity & Creativity… and how does Mindfulness come into play?
What sparks my curiosity?
This is a question that I will be exploring and hopefully be able to answer in the coming weeks as I embark on this journey of figuring out my relationship between my curiosity and my creativity.
Why is curiosity important?
Because it makes our minds active instead of passive, allows us to be observant of new ideas, opens up the world to new possibilities and brings excitement into our lives (Latumahina, 2020) My tenacity to grow as a creative and learn new things is infinite but harnessing that knowledge and developing my curiosity into a constructive tool, rather than a passive being is where my next steps lay. As Kim states, “the world’s best innovators expertise grows as they actualize their curiosity by developing a love of learning. Their curiosity impulse and prior knowledge alert them to invisible gaps or details others miss, fueling even more questioning. Their curiosity drives them to become persistent. Their wide interests and curiosity enable them to apply ideas across divergent fields, improving upon the ideas of others” (2017). I can relate, and I am inspired to learn about my own curiosity.
This wonderful exercise called The Door Activity:
Opening a door to a world unknown and exploring the wonders behind it.
Before I opened the door, I sat down to embark on this task of reflecting on my relationship between curiosity and creativity with a set of airpods in, some deep focus instrumental music on Spotify and a sense of peace. I tried to release any preconceived ideas of how I wanted this blog to be in the end, and just began exploring. Once I released those ideas, I immediately felt free, curious and excited to discover.
Interesting that I approached this exploration from a somewhat meditative, calm state of mind as the first door I selected took me immediately down the rabbit whole of looking into Mindfulness and came across a fascinating illustrated series on the Wellcome Collection.
Firstly, Wellcome Collection is a museum and library that aims to challenge the way we all think and feel about our health and wellbeing through exhibitions, collections, live programming, digital, broadcast and publishing, creating opportunities for us humans to think a little more deeply into the connections we have between science, medicine, life, and art. (Wellcome Collection, n.d.)
Take a moment and be with this wonderfully simple but thought-provoking piece of art below from the Wellcome Collections How to Be Human series:
How to be human? What a question with a gazillion answers.
This artwork illustrated by Gemma Correll piqued my interest immediately. It’s so simple, yet so captivating. As creatives, often our thoughts can be the thing that holds us back. They can be confusing, inspiring, in shambles, practical, messy and literally everywhere in between. For me, my thoughts are something that I can have a difficult time containing especially when it comes to being creative. Usually, it’s due to my self-consciousness and self-doubt as a creative practitioner where I began to judge those thoughts — often ideas that aren’t formed yet — and shut it all down before the magic can even happen.
So does journaling those thoughts help us become more calm, and thus a more efficient creative practitioner? What does mindfulness have to do with being creative?
As all creatives are aware, reflective journaling is a large part of our practice, however the actual practice of mindfulness reduces reactivity and promotes a state of calm where we become more receptive to ideas and develop the ability to engage in our surroundings in a more focused and vibrant way. This receptivity and calm state results in the removal of internal and external distractions (Bochun, 2011).
I’m curious to explore to concept of journaling throughout my work and utilising mindfulness as a tool and technique to cultivate those creative ideas I so often strive for. I wonder if incorporating journaling and mindfulness into my creative practice will actually help define my creative process and the way I approach creativity as a whole.
But of course, curiosity has the play a role in this, right? I mean, what is creativity without curiosity and vice versa?
In the fascinating Door Activity, I found that going on the journey of being curious about what was behind a door and allowing myself to explore going down a rabbit hole with my curiosity, I discovered that it is an effective technique to use when I am stuck. Beginning this task today, I didn’t see myself exploring the topic of mindfulness within my creativity but realised that it can be an important factor in my work as a creative practitioner and an important part of my creative process. I was inspired to dig deeper on this topic because I realise, the more I develop myself and my craft, the more I am curious about taking care of myself and utilising my mind in a safe, calm and expansive may. Mindfulness plays a big part in that process.
Along with learning more about and incorporating mindfulness into my creative practice, I also need to develop a curiosity plan to aid in boosting my curiosity and begin to start tying the two together.
MY PLAN:
Without overwhelming myself and my creative process, I am starting small and giving myself three factors to focus on and work towards as I begin to develop my curiosity plan over the next few weeks and months.
These three habits are inspired from the article ‘8 Habits of Curious People’ written by Stephanie Vozza (2015). Cultivating healthy habits for me is important as it not only provides me a foundation of tools to be my best self, but it also incorporates discipline into my life. When I practice discipline with everything that I do, I have room to grow and create.
1. ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS
The first thing that I am going to focus on is to allow myself the freedom to ask questions. Not just yes or no questions, but questions that may not have an answer to as of yet and then challenge myself to discover those answers if need be.
2. BE FULLY PRESENT
Coming from an acting background, being present and in the moment is a big part of my craft. However, that’s easy to switch off when I come back to myself. This one is difficult for me as I am often surrounded by technological distractions and in a constant state of go, go, go. I am going to allow time to ensure I am not multitasking at all times of the day and create that space to be curious.
3. ACTIVELY MAKE TIME FOR CURIOSITY
Making time for curiosity is a habit that I aim to incorporate into my week as I would exercise or meditation. This will force me away from distractions and out into the world where I can question everything about myself, my practice, my life and the world we live in, hopefully also developing the way I cultivate ideas in the process.
Curiosity is one of the first steps in constructing a path to creative inquiry and I believe it is an important aspect to include into my process as a creative practitioner. I just need to harness it and then run with it. Journaling my messy thoughts in a mindful state will definitely be the first step on the wacky but exciting journey. Wish me luck!
References:
Bochun, P. (2011). Mindfulness and Creativity. Canadian Teacher Magazine, 8. Retrieved from http://www.sterlinghall.com/uploaded/The_Institute/News/Mindfulness_and_Creativity.pdf
Correll, G. (2021). Mindfulness [Image]. Retrieved from https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/YYP1lRIAACIAsBry
Kim, K. (2017). Curiosity: The Key to Creativity and Innovation [Blog]. Retrieved from https://www.ideatovalue.com/crea/khkim/2017/06/curiosity-key-creativity-innovation/
Latumahina, D. (2020). 4 Reasons Why Curiosity iIs Important and How to Develop It. Retrieved 11 November 2021, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/4-reasons-why-curiosity-is-important-and-how-to-develop-it.html
Vozzo, S. (2015). 8 Habits of Curious People [Blog]. Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/3045148/8-habits-of-curious-people
Wellcome Collection. Retrieved 11 November 2021, from https://wellcomecollection.org
