Two Types of Creative Thought
One is work. One is relaxing.
A week or so ago, I got a group of fellow creatives together and we played with Legos. And let me tell you, it was the most relaxing half hour of my week. And I realized there are two ways creatives use their brains – one active and one passive. I also realized if you want to get a bunch of (mostly) introverted people together, give them something to do with their hands.
Creating Actively
Here’s the way you’re already thinking of – thinking as creating or as ideating something new. I would call this the active way of using your brain. You need to call up your visual archive and use it to make connections. This is a conscious and intentional way of thinking. It can certainly be fun, but it is work to do it.
Making Passively
The other one is what happens when you put together LEGOs – you are not creating something new, but making something. The designers at LEGO have done the work of figuring out what color to use and where everything goes, and put together a little instruction book. You get to use your visual/spatial talents in a tactile way to put it together. It feels like an unconscious part of my brain is at work. The active part of my brain gets to relax because all the little decisions were made for me. I find this aspect of (insert tedious hobby) to be the part that’s really relaxing. I can get really focused. But there's no stress about the finish line. I am making something predetermined, and there's no pressure for it to be something new.
It’s good to work your brain in both ways – actively is kind of like aerobics – you’ll be tired at the end, but you’re building muscle and endurance. And passively is kind of like meditation – you’re resting and recharging.
🕳️ The Rabbit Hole
Na Kim
On the importance of having a personal practice separate from your work practice.
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