How to tune a Violin?
Before coming into creativity let's observe how a violin is tuned. I have to confess, I do not play violin. Not because I like to, but because I cannot. The ability to create music is not in my bones. However, I have tried to play a violin and observed how experts do it, on and off stage. Before playing in the finest orchestra, violinist first tune their instrument. They adjust the tension in the strings by tightening the nuts. Not too tight, or not too loose, they repeatedly check the note while doing this. And until everything sounds perfect.
Not too tight, not too loose. Is the mantra, that anyone who needs to be creative should focus on.
Infact there are so many examples I can give you on being moderate in effort. Imagine a painter, drawing a master art. There are plenty of videos online nowadays. More than art, the process of creating an art is fascinating. And one thing to note is, the moderation in effort. Even the grip of the brush, even the brush strokes, are not tight. Not too light. Effort is optimal.
Even when cycling, if you ask Tadej Pogačar how he won the Tour de France this year, he will tell it is the moderation of effort which won him the title. Not at all about the last-minute sprint. It sure does matter final few seconds, but as you can see, to get to the point to be in top at least to give it a shot, someone have to be endured hardships and preserve energy. Life is a marathon, and you do not have to win every stage.
Have you seen, players in Olympic games, they inhale and exhale deeply before even step on the sprinting for a long jump. They calm themselves down.
Have you seen, snipers when they shoot, they inhale and exhale and take a deep breath and calm themselves down, before they pull the trigger.
I am sure these are not the only ones. There are many more examples, where we can learn from, that it is not at all about maximum effort. Not always.
Let's get back to our problems of how to be creative.
Have you not found your creative spark lately? The life feels boring, and you just even do not want to do it anymore? Maybe, your effort is not optimal. If you had been trying so hard previously maybe it is time to slow down a little bit. Time to take a deep breath and contemplate your life. Time to go to beach, or on a vacation, to empty the clogged-up mind. And while there just listen to it without trying to extract meaning so hard. If you watch long enough, you will empty your cup, that there will be enough space for new creative ideas to sweep in.
Maybe it is time to do what you have postponed doing so long. I am not sure what it is, but you know exactly. For me it may be going to the movies, or stopping the car by the road and walk, reading a book, or looking at the sky with a blank mind. Something which is opposite of being productive yet will be so productive when you keep mindfulness as your friend. Obviously, answers to your complex problems, can be really there in the coffee cup. Or in a dirty pile of garbage. Maybe if you are just mindful your intuition will grow, like the wisdom in a fruit salad.
Your willingness to be creative will work around the clock in the background and you will strongly come back for another productive day. Even if not, you will be wiser about yourself. Really speaking nobody knows where our creative intuitions are coming from. And if you fail to find the creative spark, maybe you are looking in the wrong place. And mindfulness will let you know what to do next, trust me as a friend and just listen.
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