Creativity

HARD-WIRED FOR COLLABORATION: PHYSICAL TOUCH INCREASES PERFORMANCE

Physical touch stengthens creative problem solving and performance. In Born To Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life (Norton, 2009), Dacher Keltner cites research indicating that simply giving a reassuring physical touch (a high-five, a chest bump, a shoulder pat) can increase performance on the basketball court, in intimate relationship, in the classroom, everywhere! Humans are wired to seek collaborative effort to "share the load" of problem solving.

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Focusing and Architecture: Designing From The Inside Out

Architecture is revisioned through Susanka's Not So Big concept, design which starts with the wants and needs of owners. "Masculine" vs. "Feminine" struggle archetypically with house design. Gendlin's Focusing, and Active Listening look for compromise in designing from the inside (unique wants/needs/functions) out as well as the outside (site, location, artistic vision) in.

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MICHAEL JACKSON: CREATIVITY AND BIPOLAR DISORDER

Kay Redfield Jamison studied the relationship between creativity and madness. She terms manic-depressive, or bipolar, disorder "a terminal illness," e.g., if not treated with appropriate medication and/or psychotherapy, ending in death. Did Michael Jackson and other extremely creative people who died prematurely from addiction, suicide, and reckless living suffer from manic-depressive disorder? Is there a way to treat the "super-human" energy of creativity without dimming its spark?

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ADHD OR HANDS-ON LEARNING? “FOCUSED” TODDLER” BECOMES “ATTENTION-DEFICIT” STUDENT?

Active,hands-on learners are intensely interested in learning skills as toddlers. They will pay attention to the mechanics of any task, and practice, practice, practice until they can master it. How is it that this focused learner becomes labelled as ADHD, "attention-deficit," upon reaching fourth grade? Do we really offer "equal opportunity" for education if we do not provide equal access to these "non-academic," non-reading and -writing-oriented learners?

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CREATIVE EDGE LISTENING: ACTIVE, EMPATHIC, FOCUSED LISTENING ALLOWS CREATIVITY TO EMERGE

Creativity comes from inside, from articulation of The Creative Edge, the "something-more-than-words" experienced as intuitions, gut instincts, the vague, blurry "feel" of "the whole thing." Creative Edge Listening and Creative Edge Focusing are self-help skills that facilitate exploration of the "not-yet-known. Applications at home and work, alone, for interpersonal conflict and for creative problem solving in organizations.

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THE CREATIVE EDGE FOCUSING PYRAMID IN BUSINESS SETTINGS: FOCUSING, LISTENING, AND COLLABORATIVE EDGE MEETINGS

The Creative Edge Focusing Pyramid shows how to maximize creativity, innovation, and mutual support at every level in businesses and organizations. Simple self-help skills of Intuitive Focusing and Focused Listening allow the articulation of non-linear, right-brain solutions at every level of problem solving, with carry-over for conflict resolution, stress reduction, and emotional problem solving at home as well as at work.

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FOCUSING AND BUSINESS: BUILDING COMMUNITY AT WORK

Creative Edge Organizations encourage creative, innovative problem solving from each individual's fresh, intuitive, right-brain thinking by teaching Intuitive Focusing and Focused Listening as basic skills of "emotional and social intelligence." The exchange of Focusing/Listening turns builds feelings of "buy in" and "community" while encouraging innovation, creativity, and diversity.

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