The Creative Instinct

Okay – so you read (I hope) the case for incorporating a delayed gratification approach into your creative life – now, for the first time anywhere (so far as I know), here is the case against – or…

Why Instant Gratification Rules
Note: I’m taking a devil’s advocate stance here so don’t expect any kind of balanced argument.

Delayed gratification can be a real creativity killer. If you’ve ever seen the kind of person who has truly embraced delayed gratification you’ll know exactly what I mean.

This is the kind of person who plans to marry their partner in 7 years time. They actually set a date. It’s dull, dull, dull accountant-think where everything is subjugated to the hallowed dogma of future profit.

When you are deep in the delayed gratification groove it becomes a cop out from the terrifying, exhilarating joy of living in the here and now. It’s safe, uneventful and smug, and you can look down on your lesser life forms secure in the knowledge that you will end up in a bigger house, with a better car and a wonderful 2.5 children family. And when the time comes you will know exactly when to stop delaying your gratification and begin to enjoy – really enjoy – all the accumulated fruits of your dutiful toil.

Yeah… right. As if.

The awkward truth is that delayed gratification is a habit that’s hard to give up. The grim puritan soul of delayed gratification feeds on the consistent denial of the good things on offer at this moment – to the point where denial itself becomes the reward.

Well stuff that!

How can you be creative when you hold back from the spontaneity of now? How can you be original when your imagination (if you can call it that) is fixed within the rigid tram-lines of your ever-so-conventional future vision?

If you want to find and keep your creativity you need to party. And every now and again you need to really party. You need to feed your creativity with unplanned indulgence and planned stimulation. You need the ability to drop everything when your friends need you to – to cry with them, laugh with them, bitch with them.

You need the time to gaze at the stars, to become fascinated by the wrinkles on an old man’s face, or awed by the perfect lacework of a dragonfly’s wing. And you need to be idle enough to allow your thoughts and ideas to come together at their own pace.

Our creative soul needs everything that a life dedicated to the god of delayed gratification denies. If we want to be creative we should deny its false promise.

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Other relevant posts:
Delayed Gratification and the Creative Soul – Part 1: Delayed Gratification is Good For You

Have you ever given up something pleasurable now in order to reap greater rewards later? That’s delayed gratification. And I’ll bet you’ve also decided to blow the consequences and take the pleasure now. That’s instant gratification.

In this post I’m going to present the standard arguments for delayed gratification and against instant gratification. Then in the posts that follow I’ll look at whether anything is ever quite so simple.

The Importance of a Marshmallow

There was a remarkable study using children’s (in)ability to resist a marshmallow that had some amazing results. Psychologists gave some lucky four-year olds a marshmallow. Then they told the child that they could eat it straight away - or save it for twenty minutes and be rewarded with a second marshmallow.

Of course some kids scoffed the marshmallow immediately, some tried to resist the temptation but gave in, and some others actually managed to hold out for their prize - though not without agonies of squirming, shall-I-shan’t-I temptation. It must have been superbly entertaining for the experimenters.

Anyhow - the point of this beautifully designed torture was to follow the kids as they grew and developed, and find out if there was a link between the early ability to delay gratification and how well or badly these children did in later life. There have been many similar studies and the correlations are astonishing - consistently showing that those tending towards instant gratification did worse than those who managed to hold out for that extra marshmallow, bigger candy bar or extra dollar (depending on the experiment).

And the delayed gratification kids do better over a range of measurements - from better school results, improved relationships, higher incomes and more reported happiness. They’re also less likely to have problems with stuff like drink and drugs.

Narrow Definition of Success

So the results are pretty compelling - though it’s worth noting that much of the personal development literature available assumes a very narrow definition of success that basically means things like traditional career, position and salary. Nothing wrong with that, but not necessarily the drivers for the dedicated creative soul - though we might easily argue that there are equivalent desires for success in the arts, writing, music, etc.

Denied Gratification?

Because delayed gratification is more complex than the experiments assume (it’s rarely one marshmallow now for two later in real life), there’s a sense in which the trade seems much more like denied gratification. It seems to be life’s little luxuries that lose out - it’s the late nights, the extra drink, the burger or the full fat French cheese, the latest whizz-bang gadgets or being seduced by the current TV fad.
And it makes you wonder - aren’t those delayed gratification types just so deadly dull? Can’t they just lighten up and enjoy the moment?

Well - yes they can - it’s just that unlike those under the spell of instant gratification they get to choose: some gratification now, or more later. Delayed gratification is not denied gratification, it’s a trade off where the trade is to your advantage.

‘Empty’ and ‘Negative’ Gratification

There’s also another little detail that’s worth mentioning - and that is that much of the instant temptation we succumb to is ‘empty’ - it’s passive, temporary and actually makes us feel worse about ourselves afterwards. In fact in terms of achieving growth and success, and in terms of maintaining health and vitality there are often all too clear negative impacts to instant gratification.

But the trouble is that in our western culture almost every waking moment is bombarded with messages selling instant gratification. Most of our advertising is based on it. Buy this car, TV, cosmetic, perfume, music, drink, burger and not only do you get the product, you also magically receive an aura of ’success’ that the adverts tell you come with it - irresistible charm, affluence, exotic and exciting lifestyles, amazing skills, happy families… did I miss anything… of course… lots of sex.

So we buy - we feel the promised magical properties rubbing on to us, feel the rush of pleasure and triumph - and then a couple of days later, when the magic has worn off again, feel the need for another consumerist hit.

Rich Thinking and Poor Thinking

No wonder some experts liken delayed and instant gratification to ‘rich’ thinking and ‘poor’ thinking. Guess which is which.

How to Make Delayed Gratification Easier

According to many pundits exercising delayed gratification is all about self-control, discipline and willpower. There’s a certain moralistic tint goes with this argument, a judgement that the delayed gratification type is somehow ‘better’. That’s ridiculous. More effective perhaps, but then so were Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot. Effectiveness does not make you a better person, and neither does delayed gratification.

Self-control, discipline and willpower do help, but I believe there’s another factor that is way more important - the ability to visualize the outcomes of your chosen actions. When we can see only the instant rewards it’s no contest.

But a vivid awareness of the fuller impacts of our choices not only makes the negative outcomes of instant gratification more real, it does the same for those far-away positive outcomes of delayed gratification. And that makes it much, much easier to do the right thing.

Years back, when I was a college English Lecturer, I learned the value of this kind of visualization for my students. So when I set work for them I would also explain the tangible benefit to them of doing the work - namely, better marks in a particular exam paper, and the positive feeling of actually tackling questions in those papers that they would be baffled by otherwise. When I got the visualization right, even the most distracted of students could muster the enthusiasm to do a little more work.

Set compelling goals.

Of course, you can only visualize success if you’ve figured out what it is you want to succeed at. So taking the time to set yourself some worthwhile goals is absolutely paramount. With no future vision of success, no goals, what’s the point in delaying gratification? Well, there is no point. But find a compelling and realistic set of goals and build a vivid understanding of the rewards and benefits of achievement and you have the vital ingredients for pain free delayed gratification.

So the next time you are faced with the tempting, oh-so-immediately-satisfying, oh-so-temporary hit of instant gratification, remember that what you may be giving up is more, longer lasting and better gratification, later.

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See also:
Organic Goal Setting

It’s only a couple of months ago that I wrote about the challenges and opportunities we are faced with when illness knocks you out of your creative stride. That posting, Creativity - When Illness Strikes, was mainly about myself and my partner, Lynda, whose illness has had an impact on both of us.

But I also mentioned Victoria, who has had her own illness challenges to deal with:

One friend and colleague of mine set herself some tough creative goals at a time when she was struggling to manage a chronic illness. She developed her style and produced more work of a higher standard than she’d ever managed before. The satisfaction she gained during that difficult time was priceless.
Sad to say that her symptoms worsened to the point where even she couldn’t continue. Three years on and she’s still battling, but her creativity has been battered and, for now at least, subdued.

Victoria left a comment confirming the challenges she was facing to her creativity, but then added this:

I am wondering now, particularly prompted by Andy’s synchronistic posting, whether I can rediscover it , and I WILL be taking some (albeit small) steps every day, to do so.

Victoria’s Good News
Well, I got a phone call just now from a very chipper sounding Victoria. She did take those small steps, painting scenes from around Nether Edge in Sheffield, which is close to where she lives. And a couple of days ago she took a stall at a farmer’s market in the area and sold five paintings. That’s five paintings to five different people - a real affirmation of the quality of Victoria’s work. Not surprisingly Victoria is ecstatic that her first ever foray into selling her work could be so successful.

Victoria is still dealing with her illness, but feels that if she can do it, anyone can, bearing in mind the situation she’s been in (and is still in). She had to force herself to resume her art, but as she says, it seemed right even though it was difficult getting back into the swing of things. As she said in her comments though, it’s knowing when you are ready, and for the couple of years before that it wouldn’t have been right to push herself.

It was brilliant hearing the brightness and enthusiasm again in Victoria’s voice, and she deserves tremendous praise for her determination to keep hold of her creative dreams. I know our creative journeys are often disrupted by setbacks and difficulties, but let’s wish Victoria a smoother ride from now on.

Inspiration
And if you are experiencing difficulties of your own, then why not use

Victoria’s story as an inspiration to begin again – small steps, remember – but you never know where those steps can lead.

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See also: Creativity – When Illness Strikes

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Would you like coaching by the author of this blog? For more info about Andrew Leigh’s coaching services, please click here.

Understanding Your Creative Block Through Metaphor

I saw an interesting post about writers’ block over at Whimblog, where artist William H Miller struck a blow against his creative block by creating an image of it. He used the play on words to make an actual creative ‘block’.

I wondered whether you could take this one step further and visualize your creative or writer’s block more metaphorically. It turned out to be something of a personal revelation.

Creative Block – Metaphorical Visualization

The key here is not to get hung up on that word ‘block’. So you are aiming not to take it literally, but instead to transform your feelings and experience of the creative block as an imaginative, metaphorical visualization.

There are two important gains from creatively imagining your block:

• It gets you being creative again (I use the term visualization, but you can render your metaphor in your own creative form)
• It gives you profound insight into the nature of your block

For instance, when I get writers’ block it typically comes in two distinct forms.

The Build-up of Pressure

My own experience of this one feels like there is a genuine blockage in my creative system right at the moment of production. I’ve had the ideas and I’ve worked on them, developed them, made notes, done research… but simply cannot get started on the actual writing.

There are lots of ways you might visualise this – for me it’s like a volcano (I’ve mentioned this in my very first posting) – I’m smoking, growling and popping with ever more intensity – you know how volcanoes can get a tad grouchy before they let loose – well, yes… that’s me. Of course, when the creative eruption finally comes it tends not to be fire and brimstone but a more benign outflow. I’m not sure how to visualize it – sort of flowery and beautiful yet urgent and edged.

Another way I visualise this is like a flawed superhero – Nuclear Reactor Man.

I know this particular writers’ block quite well and these days have learned to accept it as part of my own creative process.

The Living Maze

I haven’t felt this kind of block for a while. A bit nightmarish really, because the maze is shifting and blocking and I’m lost inside it. Although my maze has traditional hedging it’s also made up of faces and noises, buildings and cars and crossroads. The faces are large and oddly, friendly – genuinely friendly – welcoming and warm.

I’ve never visualized this block before – in fact I’m building the visualization as I write and it’s becoming very revealing to me. And that’s the real biggie in doing this kind of creative block visualization – you get surprising insights and can make some very useful interpretations of your metaphor. I’ll leave you to make your own interpretations of my maze as I feel it’s getting a little to personal to share – sorry.

Develop Your Metaphor and Visualize Your Resolution

Having visualized your block and taken whatever insights are available, the next thing is to visualize a resolution to it. For me as Volcano Man (yes I have two creative-block super hero identities) it’s down to giving him time and space to let off the steam of frustration and allow things to bubble and form till he’s ready to blow. These days I can almost enjoy this process – not sure if my other half does though.

As for the maze, I can see it opening up – organizing itself into a more orderly…no… scratch that…the maze isn’t organizing itself, I’m organizing it. I’m picking up the blocks and shifting them around. They’re still there for me, and in my mind’s eye they’re not what you’d ever describe as regimented, but they give me space and a passage through. And those faces are still smiling - even the buildings are smiling.

Everything’s smiling – it’s a happy, messy maze that I see. Yes, it is still a maze, but a maze with open ground and places to rest and be alone to do my creative thing. I actually feel happy with this kind of maze; it’s a maze that suits me very well.

Revelation

You know what? I said earlier that I haven’t felt this block for a while and now I realize that’s simply not true. With all the events surrounding Lynda’s ongoing illness and trying to earn a living at the same time I recognize that this block is with me now.

Wow. When I began writing this post I had no idea it would be quite so personally instructive.

So What is Your Creative Block Metaphor?

So what is it for you? A swamp or quicksand? A river that’s been dammed to form a massive lake of creative turbulence? A pulsating steam engine with a blocked valve? A lung searing, impenetrable smog?

Work your own visualization up and express it in your own creative form – paint, sing, play or dance your own creative block. Digitalize it, photograph it, write it.

Do any of those and you get to be creative again! And you get valuable self awareness to recognize the causes and if you want to, deal with them.

Share Your Visualizations

I’d love for you to share your own creative block visualizations in the comments below. So please add your version – and if that’s now, in a year’s time or whenever, that’s fine. If you have an image or other representation of your block that you want to share, then put a link or url with your comment.

Let’s find out just how inspiring our creative blocks can be.

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Here are some of the many posts about creative blocks - please search the site to find more:

Creative Blockages - 7 Killers of our Artistic and Creative Potential
Perfectionism - a Creative and Artistic Straight-Jacket - and How to Escape it

How Life Changes and Breaks can cause Creative Paralysis

Falling off the Horse

7 Tips to Shock You Out of Your Creative Rut

My head’s in a spin. I just came across the following quote from the great psychologist Abraham Maslow:

A first rate soup is more creative than a second rate painting.

Is it?

There are all sorts of ways of looking at this. I guess that certainly the original creation of a ‘first rate’ soup is a very creative act – but what about when you’ve got it down to a fine art (see what I did there?)

Creativity in a Savoury Crust?

Is that more creative? I’m going to use my own culinary masterpiece as an example: my hand crafted turkey pies – a slightly healthier version of an English pork pie – that is, with a hot water pastry crust, and a meat and jelly filling. I’ve been making these pies for 20 years or so – rarely change the recipe but have gradually refined my techniques. I take great pride in my pies and I hope that they are first rate.

Note: tragically and inexplicably I don’t have a photo of one of my pies. Entirely for the purposes of this blog I’ll bake one soon so that you can see (if not taste) one in all its glory.

But is my first rate pie more ‘creative’ than a ‘second rate’ painting? Here’s what I think – NO! And not only that, it’s not even more creative than a ‘second rate’ pie, or soup, that has been made creatively but hasn’t worked out properly.

Cobblers

In fact the whole idea that something ‘first rate’ (whatever that means) is necessarily more creative than something ‘second rate’ is in my humble view a right load of old cobblers.

First of all there’s the thorny judgement of what is first or second rate. But more important is the question of whether someone at the height of proficiency in their own artistic sphere (I’m including cooking in that) is being ‘more creative’ than someone who is setting out on the journey.

And as I’ve said in other posts, making mistakes is all part of the creative process. Do we have to wait until we get it right before we can say to ourselves – now that’s creative? That sounds to me like a great recipe for stifling our joy and freedom to make creative cock-ups, and it adds unwanted judgement about the quality of our creative acts.

So – second rate paintings versus first rate soups and pies?

Here’s a thought: maybe that great 20^th century psychologist Abraham Maslow was simply a rubbish painter but first rate at making soup.

Yes – I’ll go for that.