Effective ways to boost your imagination and break the creative deadlock

In order to describe the state of “non-creation”, in English there is the term creative block. Everyone puts something of their own into these concepts. But such states can be conditionally divided into two groups: lack of creativity and lack of ideas, words or skills.

In the first case, as a rule, the situation is called crisis or blockage - a person loses or does not acquire the ability to create at all, experiences a painful state of inner emptiness and dumbness, which can last for weeks and years.

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The reason for this condition can be fatigue, stress, criticism of others, increased demands on oneself, and even mental illness. To get out of a crisis, sometimes you need to thoroughly understand the reasons, take a long pause, or even seek help from a psychotherapist.

But there is another kind of creative impasse: when the work is stalled, there are not enough ideas, the right words and inspiration , it is not possible to collect thoughts. When the writer can't figure out how to end a chapter, and the designer can't fit all the necessary elements into the logo. It is quite possible to cope with such a state on your own.

Metaphorical associative cards are primarily a tool for psychologists. These are small cards with illustrations or photographs. As a rule, they depict people and their interactions, landscapes, objects, abstraction. They are needed in order to get the client to talk, remove barriers, help formulate a request, look into the subconscious and finally guide a person to solve his problem.

The first deck of metaphorical associative cards . Almost 10 years later, psychotherapist Moritz Egetmeyer decided to use his deck called Oh (an English interjection expressing surprise) in his work with patients.

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Metaphorical maps can be used not only by psychologists and their clients. When a person looks at these pictures, a chain of associations and images arises in his thoughts . Sometimes they lead to the past, to deep feelings, and sometimes they whip up imagination, give birth to pictures, ideas and plots. The main thing is to choose illustrations or photographs that evoke emotions and make the imagination fly. You can consider the cards one by one or in combination and capture the images that arise in the head. You can collect an inspiring selection of cards - like a mood board.

Storytelling-There are many games in which you have to invent and tell stories, one at a time or in a group. Help in this are cards (" Gambling story ", " In a certain kingdom "), cubes ( Story Cubes ), figures, playing fields and chips (" Box of fairy tales "). Players are given conditions (locations, characters, tools, and items), sometimes a plot and ending, and they must compose a story or a fairy tale. In some games, each participant tells a story, in others, everyone composes together.

It can be fun entertainment, a good way to while away the evening, or keep your child entertained . But besides this, in the process we liberate ourselves, stop being afraid that we will invent some kind of nonsense (after all, this is just a game!), And allow even the most stupid or crazy, at first glance, ideas to break free. And if a really worthwhile story is born with the help of such light-hearted, carefree creativity, you can use it in books, drawings, games and scripts - but you never know where else.

Each of us is periodically forced to hear the voice of the so-called internal critic - an evil entity that loves to curse and devalue ourselves and what we do. This character arises as a set of negative attitudes received from parents, teachers, sworn friends and other people who are important to us. Very often it is his harmful voice that interferes with the imagination and does not allow us to sit down at the pen, brush or keyboard. One way to turn it down is to work for the time being.

You can create a deadline yourself - for example, using a timer. This is where the well-known Pomodoro method comes in handy - a technique for managing time and fighting procrastination. According to the rules, you need to alternate 25 minutes of intensive work with five minutes of rest. There is simply no time left for doubts, fears and nagging.

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For a "race" over longer distances, you can take part in contests or marathons. Most of all, this kind of activity is loved by writers and artists: a story in a week, 31 drawings in a month . During the international writing marathon NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), you need to write 50,000 words in 30 days - a draft of a full-fledged book. To cope with such a task, you will have to give up self-criticism and selflessly write for several hours a day. In addition, marathon runners turn on the excitement and spirit of competition - they want to get to the finish line and keep up with other participants. In such extreme conditions, the creative stupor should recede, and the imagination should work in full force.

Freewriting (English freewriting - free writing) is a technique that helps to break down internal barriers, cope with the fear of a blank slate, come up with an interesting idea and get out of the creative stupor. It is assumed that you need to write whatever comes to mind, without setting global goals and without looking back at your inner critic and spelling rules. Just move a pen on paper, recording the thoughts that float before the inner gaze, even if they seem stupid and not worthy of attention.

Five rules for freewriting:

• Don't overdo it.

• Write quickly and continuously.

• Work on tight timelines.

• Write the way you think.

• Develop your thought.

• Ask yourself questions.

The fundamental difference between these two methods is that Mark Levy suggests using a timer and asking yourself leading questions that help develop thought.

If pen and paper are not enough for you, you can use special programs and services. Writelight is a timer with pop-up question tips so you have exactly what to write about. Write or Die allows you to set the number of words that you are going to write, and if you hesitate, the text input box will turn red and urge you to squeak. The service is paid, it costs $ 20, but the main functions are available in the free version.

For those who like to draw more , there are art notebooks and marathons that offer you to complete different speed tasks, help you relax and tune in to creativity.. The main condition is to draw quickly (there is a time limit for almost all types of activity), have fun and not try to criticize yourself.

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In The Artist's Way, giving up reading for a week. Arrange for yourself a kind of informational detox, limit the incoming flow of information.

It's not just about books or newspapers. Basically, our "information channels" pollute posts in social networks, news, gossip. If you block this flow for at least a day (or better, for a few days), you will have to return to activities that leave thoughts free and ultimately help the imagination to roam: walking, household chores, meditation , handicrafts, physical work and sports.

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