{"id":9,"date":"2020-01-30T22:36:49","date_gmt":"2020-01-30T22:36:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jonisensel.com\/?page_id=9"},"modified":"2025-09-20T14:29:47","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T14:29:47","slug":"creativity","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/creativity\/","title":{"rendered":"Mindful Creativity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/AbbeyWallHeader.jpg?w=960\" alt=\"Rainbow light on a stone wall\" class=\"wp-image-25\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Creativity is a mystical power that connects us to the Divine, our own little splash of life\u2019s vast cosmic ocean. It\u2019s also an effective\u2014if addictive\u2014painkiller.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Chances are you\u2019re more creative than you might think. Here are ways to create a more mindful life, with tips, inspirational stories, and resources to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wordpress1\/find-joy\/\">Find more joy<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wordpress1\/manage-your-misery\/\">Manage your misery<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wordpress1\/build-meaning\/\">Build meaning<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Get started now<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Find inspiration. <\/strong>Wander a craft, art supply, wood-working, or gardening store and pick up something inexpensive to play with. It\u2019s cheap therapy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Take a class.<\/strong> Community college Continuing Ed classes, which range from coding to photography, are usually a bargain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Join a creative community.<\/strong> Few things are more nurturing than surrounding yourself with a like-minded group, whether that\u2019s fellow writers or gardening buddies who swap seeds and cuttings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Try something easy. <\/strong>Doodling or coloring a mandala are easy places to start. The end result doesn\u2019t matter; the point is to play with colors, lines, and shapes.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Read.<\/strong> Dip a toe into <a aria-label=\"my article on spirituality and the imagination (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/the-creative-mind\/spirituality-and-the-imagination-a742a1498c1f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">my article on spirituality and the imagination<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to be more creative? Ask for a sign!<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/EditedSignPhoto3.jpeg?resize=400%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A trail marker sign\" class=\"wp-image-594\" style=\"width:441px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/EditedSignPhoto3.jpeg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/EditedSignPhoto3.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Maybe you\u2019re struggling with a decision or problem. You could be hoping for an inspiration to take a creative project to a new level. Or perhaps a loved one has died, and you long for some suggestion you still have a connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">You don\u2019t have to wait passively for an idea or answer. Try the approach I\u2019ve used in these situations: Take proactive steps to unlock your conscious mind so something you\u2019d consider a sign can squeeze through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">How?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step one<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Change your surroundings. I always head into nature, even if what\u2019s convenient is only a local park or my own yard. I need to engage my restless body, whether in walking or weeding. Such rhythmic motion is ideal for inducing a receptive state.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">I hold my decision or question uppermost in my mind, and when my attention wanders, I reclaim it. To me this feels like the opposite of meditation (another good way to solicit a sign, but one I find challenging).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"\">Our subconscious minds are more powerful, and often wiser, than our day-to-day awareness.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step two<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Look around. Pay attention. What do you notice? I focus on images, my emotional responses, and what appear to be random, unprovoked thoughts. Can any be interpreted, even wildly, as applying to the situation I\u2019m struggling with?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">When I go at this with an open mind, an image or idea will usually resonate as a tip from Beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">From beyond what? That\u2019s up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How it works, even for rationalists<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">You needn\u2019t believe in a divinity that sends personal notes. (Though my experiences suggest there\u2019s a <em>lot<\/em> here we don\u2019t understand.) Signs we notice in nature may also reflect insights bubbling up from beyond the narrow walls of our conscious minds. A few that have stood out for me: A seething ant pile suggesting I get busy on a potential project in mind. The persistence of moss growing on concrete, telling me to be patient and keep trying even when it\u2019s hard. A butterfly abruptly landing on my head to remind me of beauty and grace. And my all-time best: graffiti on a fence that read, \u201cYou already know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Scientists today acknowledge that our subconscious minds are more powerful, and often wiser, than the waking awareness seated in our frontal lobes. Engaging in motion outdoors can relax our minds into the dreamy state characterized by theta brainwaves and conducive to creativity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">As I become less focused on my to-do list and more aware of my surroundings, an even more useful question I ask myself is, \u201cWhat <em>don\u2019t<\/em> I notice?\u201d For instance, I tend to focus on details on the path, so I need the reminder to look up. I might miss intrigue at eye-level or above. The reverse may be true for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Plus we\u2019re constantly surrounded by scents, sounds, and tactile sensations that don\u2019t rate conscious attention. Can you hear the breeze, nearby birds, your own footsteps or pulse? Our nerve endings are reporting the texture of our clothes or pockets of warm air. Our brains are just electing not to pass on that information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Shutting down that pesky&nbsp;filter<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Our brains filter out most of the sensations and information bombarding us. This filtering, handled by the <a href=\"https:\/\/psychcentral.com\/news\/2013\/03\/17\/supressing-the-brains-thought-filter-can-allow-for-more-creativity\/52689.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">prefrontal cortex<\/a>, is responsible for common phenomena such as never noticing, say, Volkswagens until you buy one. Suddenly they seem to be everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">There\u2019s no change in the Volkswagen volume. Your brain has simply declared that information relevant now and allowed it to slip through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"\">Opening our minds to random signs can help shut down this filter and allow insights&nbsp;through.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This filter is helpful, but it can also be wrong, screening out information that could be useful. In particular, it eliminates potentially challenging information that might threaten our status quo or beliefs. (Thus it supports political polarization, one of several situations in which it is harmful.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Besides facts or politics we don\u2019t like, our brain can \u201chelp\u201d us avoid solutions to problems that could benefit us in the long run. It allows us to hide from decisions or actions our subconscious knows may be long overdue\u200a\u2014\u200afrom the need to end a lousy relationship to a creative solution for a problem at work that might involve risk or confrontation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Getting out of our usual settings and opening our minds to random signs can help shut down this filter so insights can come through. It also supports the unexpected connections between usually separate concepts that lie at the heart of creativity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Extra credit<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">I\u2019ve found it handy to note images and thoughts with my phone or on paper as they occur. Sometimes \u201csigns\u201d encountered in one frame of mind resonate differently later or when seen from a symbolic perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Suppose you notice a snake in the woods. (Don\u2019t scream.) Or even a vine that looks like a snake. You needn\u2019t know that snakes are classic symbols of transformation and growth, thanks to the shedding of their skin. You can discover that online later. When you do, that symbolism might reverberate if you\u2019re facing a change or related decision. Snake suggests you should go for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Snake (or Vine) was not there for your benefit, of course. She was going about her snakely business. But your <em>noticing <\/em>suggests your subconscious finds Snake relevant now. It\u2019s trying to tell you something in its primary language\u200a\u2014\u200aimagery. You\u2019d be wise to heed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Don\u2019t take my word for it; go hunting for a sign. At worst, you\u2019ll relax so creative thoughts can arise. Either way, all signs show it\u2019ll be time well spent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Creativity is a mystical power that connects us to the Divine, our own little splash of life\u2019s vast cosmic ocean. It\u2019s also an effective\u2014if addictive\u2014painkiller.&nbsp; Chances are you\u2019re more creative than you might think. Here are ways to create a more mindful life, with tips, inspirational stories, and resources to use. Get started now Want to be more creative? Ask for a sign! Maybe you\u2019re struggling with a decision or problem. You could be hoping for an inspiration to take a creative project to a new level. Or perhaps a loved one has died, and you long for some suggestion you still have a connection. You don\u2019t have to wait passively for an idea or answer. Try the approach I\u2019ve used in these situations: Take proactive steps to unlock your conscious mind so something you\u2019d consider a sign can squeeze through. How? Step one Change your surroundings. I always head into nature, even if what\u2019s convenient is only a local park or my own yard. I need to engage my restless body, whether in walking or weeding. Such rhythmic motion is ideal for inducing a receptive state.&nbsp; I hold my decision or question uppermost in my mind, and when my attention wanders, I reclaim it. To me this feels like the opposite of meditation (another good way to solicit a sign, but one I find challenging). Our subconscious minds are more powerful, and often wiser, than our day-to-day awareness. Step two Look around. Pay attention. What do you notice? I focus on images, my emotional responses, and what appear to be random, unprovoked thoughts. Can any be interpreted, even wildly, as applying to the situation I\u2019m struggling with? When I go at this with an open mind, an image or idea will usually resonate as a tip from Beyond. From beyond what? That\u2019s up to you. How it works, even for rationalists You needn\u2019t believe in a divinity that sends personal notes. (Though my experiences suggest there\u2019s a lot here we don\u2019t understand.) Signs we notice in nature may also reflect insights bubbling up from beyond the narrow walls of our conscious minds. A few that have stood out for me: A seething ant pile suggesting I get busy on a potential project in mind. The persistence of moss growing on concrete, telling me to be patient and keep trying even when it\u2019s hard. A butterfly abruptly landing on my head to remind me of beauty and grace. And my all-time best: graffiti on a fence that read, \u201cYou already know what to do.\u201d Scientists today acknowledge that our subconscious minds are more powerful, and often wiser, than the waking awareness seated in our frontal lobes. Engaging in motion outdoors can relax our minds into the dreamy state characterized by theta brainwaves and conducive to creativity. As I become less focused on my to-do list and more aware of my surroundings, an even more useful question I ask myself is, \u201cWhat don\u2019t I notice?\u201d For instance, I tend to focus on details on the path, so I need the reminder to look up. I might miss intrigue at eye-level or above. The reverse may be true for you. Plus we\u2019re constantly surrounded by scents, sounds, and tactile sensations that don\u2019t rate conscious attention. Can you hear the breeze, nearby birds, your own footsteps or pulse? Our nerve endings are reporting the texture of our clothes or pockets of warm air. Our brains are just electing not to pass on that information. Shutting down that pesky&nbsp;filter Our brains filter out most of the sensations and information bombarding us. This filtering, handled by the prefrontal cortex, is responsible for common phenomena such as never noticing, say, Volkswagens until you buy one. Suddenly they seem to be everywhere. There\u2019s no change in the Volkswagen volume. Your brain has simply declared that information relevant now and allowed it to slip through. Opening our minds to random signs can help shut down this filter and allow insights&nbsp;through. This filter is helpful, but it can also be wrong, screening out information that could be useful. In particular, it eliminates potentially challenging information that might threaten our status quo or beliefs. (Thus it supports political polarization, one of several situations in which it is harmful.) Besides facts or politics we don\u2019t like, our brain can \u201chelp\u201d us avoid solutions to problems that could benefit us in the long run. It allows us to hide from decisions or actions our subconscious knows may be long overdue\u200a\u2014\u200afrom the need to end a lousy relationship to a creative solution for a problem at work that might involve risk or confrontation. Getting out of our usual settings and opening our minds to random signs can help shut down this filter so insights can come through. It also supports the unexpected connections between usually separate concepts that lie at the heart of creativity. Extra credit I\u2019ve found it handy to note images and thoughts with my phone or on paper as they occur. Sometimes \u201csigns\u201d encountered in one frame of mind resonate differently later or when seen from a symbolic perspective. Suppose you notice a snake in the woods. (Don\u2019t scream.) Or even a vine that looks like a snake. You needn\u2019t know that snakes are classic symbols of transformation and growth, thanks to the shedding of their skin. You can discover that online later. When you do, that symbolism might reverberate if you\u2019re facing a change or related decision. Snake suggests you should go for it. Snake (or Vine) was not there for your benefit, of course. She was going about her snakely business. But your noticing suggests your subconscious finds Snake relevant now. It\u2019s trying to tell you something in its primary language\u200a\u2014\u200aimagery. You\u2019d be wise to heed it. Don\u2019t take my word for it; go hunting for a sign. At worst, you\u2019ll relax so creative thoughts can arise. Either way, all signs show it\u2019ll be time well spent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":596,"href":"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9\/revisions\/596"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jonisensel.com\/wordpress1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}