Creating “Brain Balance”

Ask the average person who aspires to be an artist, musician, or writer, but has never taken action on their aspiration, and they’ll tell you, “I’m not the creative type.” Nothing could be further from the truth. We’re all creative.

When you were in first grade and the teacher asked you and your classmates to get out the crayons, how long did it take you to get started? My guess is that all of you kids had started putting something on paper within 30 seconds of your teacher’s directive. How long do adults who aspire to be artists take to get started? Some of us take a lifetime! We’ve developed creative ability “filters” over the years.

Filters are the negative thoughts that prohibit us from taking action. “What will people think of my painting? Will it be any good? Will I have time to finish what I started? Do I have the right materials? Maybe I just don’t have the innate creative talent to do this, or Will my “left-brain” (logical, analytical) friends think I’m a “flaky” or “artsy” type if I decide to seriously pursue my artistic dream?” All of these thoughts are potential filters that keep us from starting on our creative journey.

Chuck Berry learned 6 chords on the guitar and became a pioneer of Rock n’ Roll. You could learn to strum one chord a week and be proficient enough to play 40-50% of the songs of the rock n’ roll era in a few months. Another filter – the one that says, “Don’t attempt anything unless you can be the best” stops us in our tracks. I’ll never play golf at the Tiger Woods level, but I’m not going to let that stop me from getting in a round every once in a while.

Filters also stop creative or “right-brain” types from developing the necessary skills to succeed. It’s easy for an artist to avoid taking steps to become commercially successful by claiming to be deprived of the metal agility to study accounting, business administration, or time management. Claiming to be only capable of creative thought is often the excuse of the lazy artist.

Everyone has certain strengths, and each of us should search for the common ground across 3 of life’s truths: those talents that we have been given, those that when fostered will provide a valuable service to mankind, and those about which we are passionate and enthusiastic. Don’t change the essence of who you are and cheat the world of your individuality.

But each of us must assess the roadblocks that we place in our paths of personal development. We must look in the mirror and determine which of those mental impediments are simply false perceptions that we have fabricated to avoid challenging ourselves to achieve greater heights. You may consider yourself a left or right brain person. Don’t let that stop you from creating a greater “brain balance.”

See http://www.ldv-enterprises.com/ for more creativity & business innovation resources.