3 Keys to Creativity

"Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere." - Albert Einstein

We all have imagination, but sometimes it's hard for us to get our creative mojo working when we want it to. 

Here are some of the ways I kick my imagination into gear. 

1) Music 

For me music has always been my greatest source of inspiration. I barely get anything done without something playing in the background.

My favourite pieces to listen to include: 

Beethoven's 9th Symphony

Queen's Don't Stop Me Now

Van Morrison and Michael Buble's Real Real Gone 

2) A Drink 

Studies show drinking alcohol increases creativity. 

Concentrating too much can impede your ability to think imaginatively. Alcohol relaxes you and as a result boosts original thinking.  

3) Pen to Page

When trying to inspire ideas, I believe its important to let them grow naturally. 

I prefer a blank page. I don't like lines; they disrupt the creative process. Their rigidness traps me. 

I listen to the music, sip my drink and let my stream of consciousness float me towards inspiration.

With that said, sometimes the best way to accomplish that "Eureka!" moment is to step away from what your working on and do something completely different: watch a movie, go for a walk, work out. 

The key to creativity is to enjoy the process. Nothing is fun when it becomes work. 

Relax, experiment and have fun. 

Dramatic Pause: Prologue

In theatre, there’s something called the dramatic pause...

It builds intensity to a scene.

And, in life as in comedy the key is...

Timing.

In many instances, people pause too long...

In others, not enough...

In many ways, I was very afraid to follow through with my current endeavour.  Despite this fear, in my free time I find myself doing scholarly research and writing pieces on popular culture. To invest such time and effort communicating in the written form, only for it to be known by me and my pen seems like a waste of spiritual and emotional ink. In fact, it was while researching for another article that prompted me to pursue this further. While researching for an article about women in the martial arts, I was surprised to learn there weren’t very many blogs or websites committed to the writings or the topic of female martial artists. With this, I was inspired to invest my time in my own martial arts writings. As a young Canadian I have been blessed with many opportunities, like a higher education and the simplicity of freedom of speech, so I figured why pause at martial arts.   

Hence, I will be using this space to share my eclectic interests and fields of studies, including, but not limited to:  Religion, Sex and Gender Issues, Travel, Dance, Music, Theatre, Film, Fashion, Mixology, Fitness, and Martial arts. I will separate these topics under the following labels:

Martial Arts: “Budo Bunny”

Fitness: “Fro Fitness”

Random thoughts & comedic scenarios I find my self engaged in: “Random Thoughts of a Frizzled Mind”

Travel:  “Jenny Goes for Afro Lick”

Religion, Philosophy, Sex and Gender Issues, Art, Literature, Theatre, Pop Culture, Fashion, Mixology:  “Penny for Your Thoughts”

With that said, I will do my best not to pause too long and write once or twice a week.  I hope that what I write meets creative and inquisitive minds.

...Filling the silence before one is ready can lead to empty seats.

Leaving it undisturbed for one too many beats shrouds ones skill in doubt.

But, the rhythm of that rest in auditory darkness provides all...

Truth,

As you begin to hear the light.

What you can look forward to next: West Cost Swing: the Extension of Principles from Body to Bo with Sensei Cody Stewart