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A study reported in the journal Psychological Science concluded that watching funny videos on the internet at work isn’t necessarily wasting time. “People may be taking advantage of the latest psychological science — putting themselves in a good mood so they can think more creatively. “Generally, positive mood has been found to enhance creative problem [...]
There are many distorted ideas about creators – including these: “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.” “Artists are right-brained and aren’t very good at [...]
In her article Depressed Creativity, nochnoch (Enoch Li) admits that, like many people, she never thought she “had any creativity.” Here are some excerpts from the article: I equated creativity with artists, innovators, entrepreneurs, designers, fashion… I was none of that – until I sunk into depression last year. And over the course of a [...]
Writer Charlie Kaufman [Nicolas Cage]: “To begin…To begin…How to start? I’m hungry. I should get coffee. Coffee would help me think. “Maybe I should write something first, then reward myself with coffee. Coffee and a muffin. So I need to establish the themes. Maybe a banana nut. That’s a good muffin.” From “Adaptation” – written [...]
Many talented actors and other performers experience “jitters” – which can be helpful up to a point – or outright anxiety such as stage fright – which is not so helpful. Both Helena Bonham Carter and Colin Firth of “The King’s Speech” have talked about suffering from it (see the article Celebrities with anxiety and [...]
By Edith Johnston PhD LPC I have lots of ideas. I am intelligent and inquisitive with lots of interests. Yet, I am insecure and everything seems incongruent as I move through life. Does this sound like something you experience? Being a multi-talented individual, or said another way, a smart person, can lead to this kind [...]
After he saw his parents go from winning a state lottery to being bankrupt and on the verge of divorce, Dean Whittingham researched what led them from “utter bliss to despair and depression” – and strategies to help other people stay successful. At least part of the answer is in terms of brain function. “How [...]
A recent news story reports on growing evidence for the effectiveness of mindfulness therapy, which “encourages patients to focus on their breathing and their body, to notice but not judge their thoughts and to generally live in the moment.” The article continues, “It may sound a bit squishy and New Agey to some, but.. experts [...]
“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 [...]
By Janet Esposito, MSW It seems like quite a stretch to think that our fear of public speaking and performing can actually be a blessing in our lives. That sounds like a big dose of positive thinking—an attempt to be the eternal optimist trying to find the silver lining in a difficult and often painful [...]
When I was a child, and even through graduate school, I thought people were going to find out I was a fraud. I thought other talented people were doing better, achieving more and having more fun doing it, and I still tend to compare myself unfavorably with others on a daily basis. In her book, Emotional Intensity [...]
Like many gifted children, my childhood was peppered with incidents of parents and other adults telling me to be calm, or even more devastating, to be ‘normal.’ If adults are uncomfortable with their own emotions they may be especially uncomfortable around the intensities of gifted children. What effect does this have on gifted kids? Recognizing [...]
The fear of failing in front of an audience is familiar to me. Even though I never had a major memory lapse or experienced any ridicule for my work as an actress, I always felt afraid before every performance . Many of us who have performed before an audience can probably relate to American Idol [...]
Being shy may not be uncommon for children, but when it endures for us as teens and adults, shyness impedes the kinds of social connections that can enhance our talents and creative expression. Research is helping explain shyness in terms of brain physiology, particularly involving the amygdala (technically amygdalae) – a pair of structures in [...]
Many actors, musicians and other entertainers report they experience stage fright, but making a speech or public presentation can also produce so much performance anxiety you aren’t able to express your personality and creative ideas as well as you could without the fear, in more control of your emotions. Or you don’t even attempt something [...]
By Cat Robson What are some of the considerations that lead sensitive and gifted adults to take psychiatric medications? What are some of the reasons people stop taking medications?? What are the alternatives? My inner life, and sometimes my outer life, is painful/chaotic/confusing. The DSM symptoms list for certain mental illnesses seem to fit me [...]
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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.
