The Truly Creative Thought Process.

 Creativity is "Sparks of Light!"

I have noticed that people who are considered by their friends and acquaintances as creative all share a number of attributes. But one of these characteristics seems to be almost essential to the entire creative process. That is:

They all to a larger degree like a challenge. Some may be rather specific about it in that it has to relate to whatever their particularly creative with. But overall they enjoy working through a process of understanding and discovery. Some people I have found once they start digging into something have a hard time stopping. Indeed, and I include myself in that group, given the choice of working out a problem or creating something and having dinner, well let's just say dinner will have to wait.

Last night was no exception to this rule. I found it personally annoying while I was fixing a little bit of code that I had to stop because they were serving dinner at my assistant living residence. "How dare they interrupt my train of thought." was the thought immediately made its presence known in my head.-That not so little voice. The really amazing part was that I truly meant it. There are few things more joyous than when one can feel a problem being understood and in the process of resolving.

However, once a problem is resolved, or the answer is discovered, I always feel a little let down. Because the fun is gone. I guess I don't look for the destination in life. It is the trip, the space between the end points, that counts.

I truly now understand my father who love to do his own little research on Sunday. The commandment he would issue was: "Don't disturb the old man while my books are on the dining room table and open. Lest ye, face of fate worse than death. [English translation: Our allowance for the week was on the line.]

There is  also that truly wonderful feeling of being completely immersed in an idea. It can be the emotional equivalent of romantic sex or sometimes even better, and that's saying a lot as to how important the creative process is. When the time and environment are correct, it can feel like it's almost the definition of the perfection of human life. That our job as thinking beings has been fulfilled.

But in order for this synergy to happen there must be the right environment:

• There must be uninterrupted space, physical, emotional and intellectual. Where you know you won't be distracted by someone coming through the door and you can focus your energies exclusively to the task at hand.
  
  
• That period of time has to be of sufficient length, for myself it must be over two hours minimum, so I can really let my hair down and get into the task at hand exclusively. During this time nothing else really matters.
  
  
• The task is often viewed as a mystery one is unraveling, there may be interruptions in the trail but there is also a sense of excitement because it is not too easy.
  
  
• Therefore in the creative process there must be challenge. Something that encourages you to bring in all your mental assets as well as the emotional ones. All departments in your brain must be turned on.

If everything is working correctly there is also a letting go of perceived restraints. A sense of true freedom. This process shares a lot of attributes I spoke about in another article on this blog recently "Nurturing the Creative Soul" which is about recognizing the creative people and friends around. And most importantly allowing these individuals to be themselves.

I Truly Love the Creative Process😁, Complete with its challenges and even the frustrations. It makes the end goal so much more fulfilling.

Have a great day and of course feel free to comment.

Patrick.