Creativity & Mental Health
Carl Jung believed it would benefit humankind "to think of the creative process as a living thing implanted in the human psyche." While this author believes that creativity is a wholly integrated part of every person, for anyone who has ever found themselves wrapped up in a creative project, it is certainly easy to see creativity as a wild beast acting of its own accord. Meanwhile, we, the artists, must sprint to keep up, waving our flashlight in the darkness so the illusive creative spark does not get away.
While not everyone may identify as a 'creative person,' it's essential to recognize that we all possess the capacity or impulse to be creative when needed. Creativity is not confined to the arts; it's a skill that has proven beneficial in various professional settings, from the boardroom to the classroom. This understanding paves the way for us to explore the connection between our mental health, brain health, and creative lives, empowering us to tap into our creative potential.
Even if they don't know the name of the study, most people are familiar with the results of the "Split Brain" experiments conducted by Dr. Roger Sperry in the 1980s. This study posits that the brain is divided into two hemispheres; the left hemisphere controls analytic and logical functions, while the right hemisphere is in charge of the more conceptual and creative processes.
Today, with the benefit of forty-plus years of psychological and technological innovation, this split-brain idea has been updated to explain that each hemisphere holds dominion over certain functions, but there are not just two hemispheres. Instead, now four quadrants exist with the addition of the cerebral and limbic systems.
Therefore, the creative process functions optimally when all four quadrants work together in a specific sequence. Ned Herrmann, a social scientist who spent decades researching models of brain activity in connection with creativity, describes this sequence:
"the creative process can be diagnosed as follows: Interest (left and right), preparation (left), incubation (right), illumination (right), verification (left) application (left and right). It is a balanced process--four "lefts" and four "rights."
This new way of looking at the brain and creativity is known as The Whole Brain Model. This idea makes sense when we consider that 'hemispheres' and 'quadrants' are manufactured conceits and, thanks to the corpus callosum, the entire brain is wildly interconnected on a cellular level.
Consider this: if creativity is an innate state within our species, so much so that our brains have intricate patterns to facilitate the act of creation, then being creative must serve a beneficial purpose for our species. Numerous studies have explored the link between mental health and creativity; the results are inspiring. Participants who engaged in creative tasks reported a significant reduction in feelings of depression and anxiety. Even more encouraging, individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia experienced a marked decrease in symptoms when their treatment plan included creative activities. The most exciting part? Virtually anyone can engage in the creative process and begin to experience these benefits almost immediately.
Embarking on a creative journey is a personal and unique experience. Novelist Stephen King suggests finding a place to meet with your muse daily, while author Anne Rice encourages artists to wait for inspiration to strike. In essence, they are all correct. No study or research has definitively proven a one-size-fits-all approach to the creative process. This realization liberates us, as it means we have the freedom to explore and express ourselves in our unique ways. The possibilities are endless as long as our creative endeavors bring us joy and do no harm.
What kind of creativity lives in you and how do you allow that spill over into your life? If you don't have an answer, perhaps some mindful meditation will help unlock your artistic sensibilities and regain focus within your creative life. But beware, in the spirit of the god Shiva, creation is destruction. What inner walls must you destroy to let your authentic creativity flow?
Apraxis is offering a unique 8-week workshop experience, Creative Writing for Mental Health, to help individuals embrace the intersection of creativity and a healthy mental state. For more information or to RSVP your spot, click here.
