Creativity resides on the edge of chaos

Why aren't more people creating things? In his book, The Art of War, Steven Pressfield argues that the reason is simple: people are losing the battle against resistance. Pressfield describes this as an invisible force that tries to prevent creative expression by leaving things as they are. Resistance is the one villain that everyone is trying to defeat.

To take up the fight against inner resistance (commonly referred to as laziness), Pressfield recommends setting aside a block of time each day for creative thinking and writing down tasks with intention and clarity. But first, before we can find the path of least resistance and harvest our creative juices, we must understand what creativity is and how to harness its power and unlock our potential.

Creativity requires effort and energy. Contrary to popular belief that the right hemisphere of the brain is the creative side, recent brain imaging studies show that creativity can come from both the right and left hemispheres, depending on the circumstances.

When we deal with or respond to unfamiliar things that require strategic thinking and improvisation, brain activity increases in the right hemisphere. On the other hand, when we are doing creative things out of routine, such as playing an instrument we've been learning since childhood, the left hemisphere takes over.

According to Abraham Maslow, creativity is a facet of self-actualization, which is at the top of the hierarchy of needs. Even though creativity is present in everybody, not everyone is (unconsciously) willing to expend the energy, time, and effort necessary to create and solve problems. To actively encourage spontaneous creativity and expression, basic needs always come first.

Even though the two are frequently intertwined, creativity is a luxury when compared to survival. When the needs for safety and security are met, ideas become things, empathy grows, and a greater sense of well-being and self-esteem develops.

Creation is the driving force behind evolution and the essence of life. And s haring one's inner world of experiences and feelings with others through a specific medium is what creative expression is all about.

Traditional mediums include writing, drawing, singing, painting, and playing an instrument, but there are hundreds of other ways to express one's creativity, with applications in business, science, and even everyday life.

A good example of a great creative thinker who overcame adversity and successfully put his innovative ideas into action would be Steve Jobs. He credited daily practice, discipline, and a willingness to fail for a large part of his success.

Discipline is a powerful tool for combating the stories and illusions that stifle creative inspiration and expression. A goal is a strong desire to achieve something. And being willing to fail means being willing to take risks and try things that have never been done before.

But it's never what it appears to be. Resistance takes many forms, and we must be aware that the media is one of them today. The media sets the norm, tells the masses what is acceptable, and shapes our view of the world, often inhibiting creative thinking.

Another form of resistance that is very common is perfectionism. In psychology, this condition is often the result of a lack of encouragement and affirmation during the developmental years, often combined with criticism, reprimand, or punishment.

We can overcome this resistance by refusing to let imperfect situations lower our self-esteem and make us less creative.

Although the mainstream media attempts to entice viewers with sensationalism and archetypal narratives rooted in order and chaos, the creative process emphasizes the importance of both, and the solution lies in the "and," not the "or."

This paradoxical phenomenon occurs within the brain because creative thinking occurs when two important parts of the brain collaborate. The default network is one part, and the executive control network is the other. These parts are antagonistic to one another, but they work well together during creative thinking and artistic performance.

"You have to crack a few eggs to make an omelet," as the old adage goes. Creativity does not emerge in a perfectly ordered and logical manner. In fact, most of the time, it is the result of a combination of thoughts and ideas. For example, when a writer is working on a novel, it may take several drafts and concepts before he comes up with a best-seller.

Similarly, painters must deal with a messy study before completing their masterpiece. Chaos and order must coexist, and when accepting their coexistence, can one fully and freely master the creative process.

In cinema, an example of this many are familiar with would be that of the characters Batman (order) and (Joker). The Joker's famous line to Batman, "You complete me," sums up this relationship between two primordial forces.

The Flow Genome Project, a non-profit organization that conducts groundbreaking research to improve human performance, has discovered an altered state that boosts creativity by up to 200 percent — the flow state. Their research team is constantly looking for new ways to enter the flow state and produce their best work.

In 1990, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi coined the term "flow," which he defines as "the subjective state in which a person is working at their full capacity, and their attention is so focused on a task that factors such as fatigue and boredom do not interfere; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people participate just to enjoy it."

Essentially, "flow" is a state of mind that occurs when a person's skills and challenges match the task at hand; it's a byproduct of achieving goals with clear feedback that determines whether the action was successful or not. Ultimately, this leads to an increase in self-esteem and self-mastery.

On a physical level, the brain floods the brain with norepinephrine, dopamine, endorphins, anandamide, and serotonin, which are neurochemicals that make us feel good and think creatively.

For example, norepinephrine and dopamine increase your ability to focus on details and process more information. When you focus on a task, the sounds in your head become quieter, and you can associate them in new ways. Anandamide, a chemical in your brain, helps you think more laterally and recognize patterns that are linked to success or failure.

According to Steven Kotler, a co-founder of The Flow Genome Project, effective means of activating the flow state include extreme sports, psychedelics, and meditation.

In his book Stealing Fire, Kotler describes two main factors that trigger creativity: pattern recognition and risk-taking. Once a pattern has been identified, all that remains is for the individual to act, whether or not the action is successful, and the creative process is defined by this repetitive activity.

Many people from all walks of life have accomplished the impossible (the big "I" impossible) by entering the flow state and using their inner creativity to solve problems.

In general, people think creatively in three ways, and there are tests to help understand the part of the mind that is active and engaged.