Plain Talk Series

Can we advance our ability to be ingenious?

We don't all have to be Einstein's, however, learning to be more imaginative and or creative can be quite enjoyable and easy to do. Most of us were very imaginative as children, before we learned the official rules about how things are supposed to be. We can resurrect our ability to be more creative by exploring some of the many techniques that have been developed to improve creative and artistic ability, as well as to improve creative problem solving.

The techniques that have been developed to try enhance creativity and imagination all have one thing in common. They are all trying to bypass the inner “judge” or “critic” we have in our minds.

Some of the techniques that are used to improve productivity and artistic creativity include brainstorming, mind-mapping, various forms of hypnosis and meditation, and guided imagery.

Most of us have an inner voice that is constantly commenting on everything we think and do. Some people call this the conscience.  We might barely notice this inner voice much of the time, however, it has a great impact on what we can and cannot accomplish in our life.

In many of us, this consciousness or inner voice is usually very negative and stern. No matter what we want think about, or want to do, this inner voice is running like a tape in the background of our minds, criticizing our ideas, our performance, and our ability to be successful. The inner critic will also let you know when you are doing a good job and will encourage you if you are on the right track.

When we come up with a new idea, our inner voice may be saying things like, “This idea is stupid, it's been done already.”  Or, "I must be perfect all the time." Or, "All my ideas should be totally brilliant and innovative. If my ideas aren’t perfect right from the start, I am a failure and it’s better not to even try”.

Our negative inner critic does not always appear as a voice. Sometimes we see visual images of ourselves failing. Or we may have physical sensations of fear and embarrassment that stop us from pursuing new ideas or new actions.

Tuning into positive aspirations

Your inner critic isn’t being mean when it critiques you, or when it tells you your ideas are not very good. Your conscience is actually trying to protect you from being ashamed or embarrassed by the potentially negative comments and reactions of other people to your ideas, ways, or lifestyle. Usually influenced by past behaviors, learning, or events as you were growing up.

Our inner critic is trying to make us perfect and safe, but it can have an unforeseen damaging effect if you let it. If our inner judgmental dialogue is mostly negative, then our creative edge and abilities will suffer. Instead of helping us to come up with better ideas, this endless barrage of negative inner commentary will hurt our ability to come up with new goals, ideas, and or dreams.

You can be creative, and be critical at the same time. However, each of these two processes require different ways of thinking. The critical, judgmental, analytical function of the brain is not the part that knows how to generate creative ideas, but using the inner critic to help stimulate positive aspect and or ideas is always a uplifting experience.

For example: Someone hands you a bunch of lemons. What do you do?  Your inner critic may say something like, "Those aren't good for anything, throw them away, and get some oranges." Or your inner critic may say "When handed a bunch of lemons, make lemonade." But when you cast that inner critic behind you, your creative juices will start flowing and you will hear your inner critic say, "Make a lemon meringue pie. Most everyone you know loves lemon meringue pie."

Using your inner critic to your advantage

The types of brainwaves that you generate when you are being rational and analytical are quite different than the brainwaves that go with maximum creativity.  In any creative process there is always the beginning cycle of creativity and the end result from fine tuning your creative skills.

For example as you can see from any television commercial, that it's origins had to dismiss the inner critic that stifled the creative process. However the final end result that the viewer audience actually sees is a direct result of using the inner critic to help fine tune the actual end product.

In other words...

When it’s time for you to be creative, you have to send your inner critic out for a walk. When it's time for you to fine tune, refine, and produce a desirable outcome, that's when your inner critic must be brought back into the picture.

If you are having problems learning how and when to use your inner critic, or are having a difficult time getting things in order and on the right path, call Lorraine at 713.936.8031.