Bewitched in the Creativity Zone

This evening I am thinking about the role that muse, spells, possessions, charm and captivation have on our success and satisfaction. Let me explain a bit more.....

Perhaps it is just me (tell me if it is), but I can put myself into a mystical mental place where I my brain processing jumps to a new level and I am hypersensitive to my surroundings. It's a bit like being in the zone, but it is a mental and mood zone.

I have noticed that several things play a roll in when these bewitching or spellbound hours occur:

• Music plays a role and the right music puts me into an interesting place.
• I am more likely to enter this state after strenuous activity (I think the resulting relaxation is the key).
• I guess alcohol could play a roll, but for me, 95% of the time I have had nothing to drink.
• I am always alone and in a contemplative mood.
• It seems to occur more in low or focused lighting, not daylight or general brightness.
• Years ago, I would smoke exotic international cigarettes when I was in this mood. I don't do that anymore.

Perhaps your zoney moods look and feel very different, but I think that many people have them and they can be nourishing and helpful.

Does this make any sense to you? Do you experience this?

It is interesting to be aware of our thoughts and how the context changes who we are in that moment. I think am more generatively creative in this state. Might allowing ourselves to become spellbound help us grow and enjoy breakthroughs?

 

Comments

[Glenn Gleason]

I completely agree with your insights on this level of creativity. Part of what I think can contribute to this zone is creating the right environment. I know in my own home, when I close the door on my home office and the music and light are just right - the zone appears.

Like a child having a "safe space" - my home office is my place to contemplate, be myself and get perspective on things. In order for it to be more of that kind of space - I really limit my actual "workplace" work and use it as a place for regeneration.

I also recommend putting up pictures and images that inspire and bring good moods. By stimulating all the senses - light, sound, visual - you can teach yourself to get in the mood you describe.

How did I get to this place and realize how to make itk for me? I read an article about 6 years ago by a design engineer for Herman Miller Furniture who designed his home to have multiple spaces for key activities in his life. He had one desk in his bedroom for writing, another personal space for designing, another for home bills. Each space helped him get into the zone as he described it. My recommendation - design your space(s) to fit your personality, patterns and behavior - you can learn a lot about yourself in the process.

[Lisa Haneberg]

Yes, visuals are important too. Designing zones sounds like a smart approach. Right now I do not have a good space for reading, and need to fix this!