Erin Brockovich commented about the famous Hinkley, California vs PG&E lawsuit featured in the movie (starring Julia Roberts) and using her dyslexia: “I can still go through all 634 plaintiffs. I learned to do that because of my dyslexia. I had no real coping skills; I could not read and comprehend in my brain the [...]
Megamind: “All men must choose between two paths. Good is the path of honour, heroism, and nobility. Evil… well, it’s just cooler.” Psychologist Rollo May explains the classic Greek conception of the “daimonic” or darker side of our being (unlike the demonic, which is merely destructive) is “as much concerned with creativity as with negative [...]
“Artists must be poor and sacrifice their well-being for their art.” “Artists are ‘bad’ at marketing.” “Artists should accept the solitary life and find solutions on their own.” “You can’t be a mother and a successful artist.” Those are a few of the kinds of self-limiting ideas and myths that Alyson Stanfield of Art Biz [...]
The movie Black Swan portrays some aspects of how the darker aspects of the shadow self can impact our mental health and creative expression. The photo shows ballerina Nina [Natalie Portman] and her mother [Barbara Hershey]. In his Psych Central article “Black Swan” and the Recovery of the Shadow Self, Joseph Burgo PhD points out [...]
“Fear is good. We view fear as a disease. It’s not a disease.” Psychologist Robert Maurer “I don’t do anything anymore that feels safe. If it doesn’t scare the crap out of you, then you’re not doing the right thing.” Sandra Bullock Fear is a simple label for a variety of experiences from mild discomfort [...]
Healthy criticism can help refine our creative talents and projects, enabling our pursuit of excellence. But when criticism is based on excessive perfectionism or an unrealistic self concept, it can be destructive and self-limiting, eroding our creative assurance and vitality. In one of his podcast series, creativity coach and psychologist Eric Maisel declares, “Criticism is [...]
Deepak Chopra once commented: “Creativity is ultimately sexual – I’m sorry — but it is!” Other people agree. Writer Eve Ensler says that she believes “sexuality is the greatest gift we’ve been given. “Its energy is the basis of creativity, love, ambition, desire, life. Sexuality has gotten all these bad raps because it’s so powerful.” [...]
Shelley Carson, Ph.D. teaches and conducts research on creativity, psychopathology, and resilience. Topics in our audio podcast interview related to the creative mind and developing creativity include some of Dr. Carson’s seven brain activation patterns she discusses in her new book Your Creative Brain. Listen to the podcast: Shelley Carson on enhancing our creative brain.
Arianna Huffington was described by her friend and author Sugar Rautbord [in a Vanity Fair article] as “probably one of the most intellectually seductive human beings on the face of the planet. “She has such a powerful brain, and she exudes an intellectuality that is almost sexual.” One of the myths of highly talented people [...]
Gordon Parks [1912-2006] was often referred to as a renaissance man, as noted in an obituary by Dennis McLellan [Los Angeles Times March 8, 2006], and lived up to the label: “In addition to his photography, film work and poetry, he composed a symphony, sonatas, concertos, film scores, and wrote novels, instructional photography manuals, essays [...]
“It’s hard to focus. It’s hard to have a conversation without checking the iPhone. It’s hard to go to a shrink and spend a few minutes on the couch and not need to see what’s happening…. It’s even hard to finish a thought.” That is a quote from the article A creative retreat in the [...]
“I’m an only child and I’m just a real loner kind of person, and yeah, kinda dark. But I’m happy. Not sad. I’m just shy and nervous… I was a loner in high school. I keep to myself, but I love life.” Actor Clea DuVall One of the qualities of many actors, musicians and other [...]
By guest author Alexis Bonari The entity of creativity and the ways in which it is successfully brought to fruition have been studied extensively over a significant time period. Even prior to the twentieth century, researchers were fascinated by the psychology of creativity and its manifestation in different individuals. While much has been learned on [...]
Creative expression involves many skills and cognitive abilities, which may be enhanced by activities such as video games. And creative performance can enhance skills outside of art. Hilda Huang, 14, is acclaimed for her piano performances of Bach. She made her debut at Carnegie Hall at age 11. This is from a recent interview: Question: [...]
Ideas can fuel our creative expression – or stifle it. Fiona Apple once talked about a notion that can affect any kind of artist: self-imposed schedules or deadlines. Of course there are often “real” deadlines: a date to submit a book proposal, or to have a collection of artwork ready for a gallery opening. But [...]
For years we have heard that what you believe will determine how well you will succeed in life. So every year, people diligently attempt to change their beliefs to ones that favor their success and limit their failure. There is an entire industry that supports that cause. “You are what you believe,” is advertised with [...]
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Site author: Douglas Eby, M.A./Psychology, is a writer and researcher on the psychology of creative expression and personal growth, especially for high ability adults. He is publisher of the Talent Development Resources series of sites.
