Gifted and Stressed

“No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”

Martha Graham

For many gifted and creative people, this “blessed unrest” may also help maintain the kind of chronic arousal that leads to harmful stress reactions.
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“The quest for a job that reflects our passions, talents, and values can be a frustrating and scary one. Bestselling author Roman Krznaric has six tips for overcoming the fear of change and negotiate the labyrinth of choices.” [From Facebook summary of related article.]

Be More Creative: Keep the Channel Open

The following inspiring and insightful perspectives by dancer, choreographer and teacher Martha Graham have been around many years, and widely quoted – but it may be valuable to think about them every now and then.

She refers to many topics that impact us as creative people, and can slow down or shut off our channels of creative expression.

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique…” [Read more in post]

Aren’t All Creative People Multitalented?

They may be identified with one form of creativity – such as writing or acting, one of the visual arts, or performing music – but so many people work in multiple ways, in more than one area of creative expression.

And they may not even think it is extraordinary to be so multifaceted.

To Be More Creative Deal With Anxiety

“Anxiety is the great silencer of the creative person.” Eric Maisel, PhDOne form of anxiety is so-called writer’s block. This photo is Nicolas Cage as screenwriter Charlie Kaufman in the movie “Adaptation” by the real screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. It’s a great film about the kinds of insecurities, anxieties and distractions that can so often affect us as creative people.

Therapist and creativity coach Eric Maisel, PhD notes there are many different kinds of anxiety around creative expression.

>> Also see my SlideShare presentation {with audio} in my article Creative People: Personality and Mental Health.

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Brit Marling: “A pull between art and commerce”

Brit Marling is co-writer, producer, and star of acclaimed movies, “Sound of My Voice” and “Another Earth,” as well as the upcoming “The East.” She attended Georgetown University, and commented in a magazine interview about being drawn in at least two career directions.

“I was a double econ-studio art major. So I’d be in the darkroom developing photos, then in the library doing economic regressions. So clearly I felt this pull between art and commerce.”

Here are a couple of ventures I have come across to help creative people be more successful as entrepreneurs…

Photo: Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the founder and director of hitRECord.org.

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Personality Traits and Being More Creative

It seems to me that for most of us, our personality is more fixed than fluid. Still, we can become more aware of traits associated with creative people, and perhaps make better use of the ones we have that could enhance our creativity.

In addition to multiple Creative Mind posts on the subject, here are a few articles about traits associated with creative people.

This post offers articles, books and other resources on developing creative thinking and innovation, and enhancing our creative expression. Titles include:

Creative Thinking: How to Be More Creative (with Science!) by Gregory Ciotti

Can limitations make you more creative? Q&A with artist Phil Hansen

How to be Creative by Paul Thagard

11 Ways You’re Already Creating Every Day by Kris Emery

Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling by Emma Coats, Pixar’s Story Artist.

Twelve Things You Are Not Taught in Schools About Creative Thinking by Michael Michalko

How To Be More Creative – A List By Gail McMeekin

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Relationships and highly sensitive people

One of the challenges may be anxiety, which can be especially intense for HSPs.

Mia Wasikowska (pronounced Vash-i-kov-ska) plays the lead in TIm Burton’s movie “Alice in Wonderland.”

She has commented, “As a teenager I was very anxious. I had a lot of energy and passion that I wanted to channel into creative things, and I always felt like I wasn’t achieving enough.”

Drs. Ted Zeff and Elaine Aron provide helpful perspectives.

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Psychologist Cheryl Arutt talks about the concept of the Shadow Self that psychologist Carl Jung addressed in his therapy and writings.

She notes that our emotional health and balance, perhaps especially for artists, may depend on having some understanding and acceptance of the darker or less comfortable sides of ourselves – and doing this also gives us more power to make aware choices rather than just react to life unconsciously.~~~~~~~~~

The Creative Mind book series

Part One in the planned series is a focus on identity and confidence: topics that impact how motivated and energized people may be to pursue their creative talents and ideas.

From the Nurturing creativity in solitude section:

In her article Psychological Factors in the Development of Adulthood Giftedness from Childhood Talent, Paula Olszewski-Kubilius, PhD talks about solitude in early life:

“Many eminent individuals reported experiencing social isolation and loneliness as children. Many came from homes where there was ample opportunity for time alone for a variety of reasons and circumstances.

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