Does the universe conspire against creativity?

[composer]

Do you find that the universe conspires to prevent you from creative work? It's the quotidian which does me in; appointments, family needs, maintenance work. A month ago I started work on a really new piece of software, nothing like this exists, and due to the daily sludge I haven't gotten any stick time on it.

Techniques to avoid the problem? I just try to power through somehow.

[bass_n_treble]

This reminds me of the Julia Cameron book The Artists' Way (which I recommend for anyone who has ever typed a creative essay, picked up a paintbrush, tickled piano ivories, etc.)... she talks about how you have to draw creativity from the universe, learn how to separate right and left brain activity (your right brain is especially active when you just wake up, and is the optimal time to brainstorm and create).

You are going to have to identify when your surroundings will be at their most peaceful, and allow yourself some alone time (say no to people, set aside a day of doing absolutely nothing, and stick to it).

EDIT: The best time to plan your day is right before going to sleep--I will sometimes arrange my shoes upside down so I remind myself I have something planned. If you allow your creative times to chance, you will find other people will suddenly have different ideas for you. But if you deliberately set time aside, you give yourself permission to work on it, and allow yourself to prioritize it. The mistake a lot of blocked creative types make is assuming their work is not important and submit to the SJ/left brained world.

[Trentham]

"The universe," no.

Other people, and the systems they put in place to make their own lives more comfortable/satisfying/predictable, absolutely yes.

[vSv]

I don't see how the universe is trying to stop me from creativity, quite the opposite.
But certain humans on the other hand, absolutely.

[bass_n_treble]

Wow, what a bunch of literalists. Very helpful. :rolleyes2:

[Trentham]

Wow, what a bunch of literalists. Very helpful. :rolleyes2:
vSv and I both implied that the best way to unleash your creativity is to ignore the constraints and roadblocks others will attempt to foist upon you. Pretty solid advice if you ask me.

Nebulous NF'y "flow with the energy of teh Universe" stuff is not my forte. :p

[Scarecrow]

No. If ambition exists, you can overcome anything.

[HycrestJIT]

It loves creativity - sometimes it just has a different idea of what you should be creating.

[YHWH]

The universe doesn't give a fuck, but high-five for inverting an abhorrent Coelho statement.

[quantumzero]

I voted no, because the universe would then be assisting a vacuum.

[Rhu]

It's the quotidian which does me in; appointments, family needs, maintenance work.
All of this was voluntary.


Techniques to avoid the problem?
Don't sign up for appointments you don't want to keep, ditch the family, pay someone else to take care of maintenance.

[bass_n_treble]

vSv and I both implied that the best way to unleash your creativity is to ignore the constraints and roadblocks others will attempt to foist upon you. Pretty solid advice if you ask me.

Nebulous NF'y "flow with the energy of teh Universe" stuff is not my forte. :p

I think the word universe is a good euphemism for someone who might not believe in God, and is talking about the way nature and luck happen. I don't think it's spiritual at all.

The point is--the real question is--do any of you guys, upon creating something get interrupted and for a split second believe it could just be some curse upon you?

Damn literalists. I thought you guys were Ns, come on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphor

[bass_n_treble]

All of this was voluntary.

True.

However...

Don't sign up for appointments you don't want to keep, ditch the family, pay someone else to take care of maintenance.

I think the actual act of creating should be viewed as an appointment, rather than something that happens between appointments. This helps categorize it in your brain the correct way to allow absence of that feeling "shouldn't I be worrying about someone/something else?"

It also eliminates any trivialization that uncreative people may try to distill into your consciousness. "I have a composition session from 5-7:00" sounds better than "I thought I would dick around on the guitar before dinner."

[Rhu]

I think the actual act of creating should be viewed as an appointment, rather than something that happens between appointments. This helps categorize it in your brain the correct way to allow absence of that feeling "shouldn't I be worrying about someone/something else?"

To a degree, maybe. Trying to schedule an event that spins your perspective or crystallizes an idea sounds more probably like wishful thinking than workable process.

Refinement towards realization of a creation, yeah, okay. I can buy scheduling that.

[bass_n_treble]

To a degree, maybe. Trying to schedule an event that spins your perspective or crystallizes an idea sounds more probably like wishful thinking than workable process.

Refinement towards realization of a creation, yeah, okay. I can buy scheduling that.

Working on identifying and ignoring your inner-critic (left brain) through bad or ill-formed ideas is what separates people who can create quality work and people who can make mediocre products. Because the art of the practice without stopping to think about it (right brain) is what makes the final product even possible. Otherwise the left brain will overrun you and block you, and you will give up and get depressed.

Of all the subjects in school, the only two classes where doing homework is actually effective is art and music.

Yadda yadda Edison's 10,000 prototypes before the lightbulb yadda yadda (even though he didn't invent the lightbulb), etc. etc.

Seriously though, this is all from that Artist's Way book I mentioned.

[1104]

that would imply that we live in an intelligent universe. so no.

[Qlippoth]

@bass_n_treble

Just wanted to mention that I too am surprised at the confusion your turn of phrase has caused INTPc'ers.

[Trentham]

@bass_n_treble

Just wanted to mention that I too am surprised at the confusion your turn of phrase has caused INTPc'ers.

My short answer to the OP's question would actually be yes. In fact, using his terms, I feel like the universe conspires against me pretty much constantly. My reply to this thread was an attempt to separate the feelings of helplessness one can often experience when overwhelmed, from the reality that oftentimes you can do something to help change those circumstances (i.e., "beat The Universe at its own game").

I still believe that thinking about a problem like this in literal terms is a good way to help solve it.

[djm]

If there is one thing and one thing alone that the universe conspires against - then it is order. The universe is essentially chaotic, and life is really not much more than a temporary fight against chaos.

As creativity is essentially chaotic, or at least involves pulling something new out of the chaotic - then I should say that it is quite the opposite to the OP.

Life on the other hand does tend to conspire against creativity, insomuch as life involves resistance to chaos. This needs must expend a great deal of energy in order to prevent chaos.

Creative people tend to be somewhat chaotic in nature, if one embraces a less orderly life then creativity is sure to increase.

[Trentham]

If there is one thing and one thing alone that the universe conspires against - then it is order. The universe is essentially chaotic, and life is really not much more than a temporary fight against chaos.

As creativity is essentially chaotic, or at least involves pulling something new out of the chaotic - then I should say that it is quite the opposite to the OP.

Life on the other hand does tend to conspire against creativity, insomuch as life involves resistance to chaos. This needs must expend a great deal of energy in order to prevent chaos.

Creative people tend to be somewhat chaotic in nature, if one embraces a less orderly life then creativity is sure to increase.
I think this post captures the best of both sides of this (pointless) discussion we've been having.

[Qlippoth]

I still believe that thinking about a problem like this in literal terms is a good way to help solve it.

I agree, and this is wisdom. But, it doesn't lessen the surprise I feel when:

A) People start picking at an innocuous phrase.
B) I consider the phrase and it the point of view it may represent.
C) Decide some people have a good point.
D) Decide some are being pedantic.
E) Forgot what the post was about.

Wecome to INTPc.

[Trentham]

Wecome to INTPc the Internet.
Fixed that for ya. :p

[30footsmurf]

Working on identifying and ignoring your inner-critic (left brain) through bad or ill-formed ideas is what separates people who can create quality work and people who can make mediocre products. Because the art of the practice without stopping to think about it (right brain) is what makes the final product even possible. Otherwise the left brain will overrun you and block you, and you will give up and get depressed.

Of all the subjects in school, the only two classes where doing homework is actually effective is art and music.

Yadda yadda Edison's 10,000 prototypes before the lightbulb yadda yadda (even though he didn't invent the lightbulb), etc. etc.

Seriously though, this is all from that Artist's Way book I mentioned.

I don't think I've ever gotten better advice that I should have thought of myself. Thanks. I've been playing guitar for years, and have tried to start bands before, but people always end up going their own way. I've become more into being the guy with a guitar folk singer type to start off just writing stuff, but never prioritized and actually would speak about what I would be doing in playful ways that I can see now detracted form the ability of others to take me seriously about it, as well as maintaining my own aloof attitude toward my own creative ambitions. Setting time aside and telling people you're busy is an absolute must. I've probably forgotten enough good ideas for songs to have a few albums of varying quality completed by now. I'm gonna start doing this. I'll post whatever I come up with on here.
Cheers Brother.

[bass_n_treble]

I feel that I've accomplished what I intended to in this thread.

Is the key word in the title of the thread not universe, literal or otherwise, but creativity?

Maybe the thread title should just be Creativity Block.

[Curtis24]

No, the universe doesn't conspire against creativity. In fact, it rewards it usually.

[1104]

fact!

[Perseus]

Do you find that the universe conspires to prevent you from creative work? It's the quotidian which does me in; appointments, family needs, maintenance work. A month ago I started work on a really new piece of software, nothing like this exists, and due to the daily sludge I haven't gotten any stick time on it.

Techniques to avoid the problem? I just try to power through somehow.

Its people who are Politicians. :theclap: They ...................


I am bored.

Mortar Board.:banana:

[Curtis24]

fact!

Is this in response to my post? :mellow:

[dubbeltop]

Does the universe conspire against creativity?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHoxZF3ZgTo&videos=Byu-MmqZrI0&playnext_from=TL&playnext=1

Ep 1: Waking Up in the Universe - Growing Up in the Universe - Richard Dawkins

I think your brain conspires against you.

The universe is just an outside entity being the universe as it has been for billions of years. You are part of it. Albeit a tiny part for a tiny while. No need to give you a big brain. Your creativy is supplied in limited quantities because it is to be used only for survival beyond your tiny part for a tiNy while.

Creativity is survival, mere survival.