Creativity is stifled by the fear of judgment.
We must go back to childhood playfulness in order to stimulate creativity. We need an environment of trust where we can play with ideas and feel free to make mistakes. In his TED talk at the Serious Play Conference (Yes, there is such a thing!), Tim Brown tells us that playfulness and seriousness are not mutually exclusive. We must navigate back and forth between playfulness and seriousness, creativity and work, inspiration and perspiration. We can be serious professional adults, and at times, still be playful.
Play has rules
We go in and out of the state of play. Children do not play all the time. There are safe spaces for play. Good teachers will transition in and out of these states. Creative companies like Google create those safe places, free from judgment, open to playful expression. Trust is required for play. When we can trust each other to abide by the rules of play, we feel safe and creativity can flow.
Behaviors that stimulate creativity
- Exploration: Go for quantity
- Building: Think with your hands
- Role-play: Acting it out
These behavior observed in children at play are useful for stimulating creativity. In exploration, we look for as many solutions and possibilities. We do not judge them, we only create them. When we build with our hands, the tactile stimulation engages the creative brain. In role-play, acting it out helps us create something authentic to the needs of the situation.
Watch Tim Brown: “Tales of Creativity and Play”
Join us for a workshop retreat in 2019…
Rediscovering Play
“Inspiration and Joy Through Creative Expression”
Join Dr. Joel Ying and Deb Jewett at a workshop retreat at Hope Springs Institute. Release more joy into your life, open your creative flow, and feel rejuvenated. We facilitate a safe space of community, fun, and play. Explore art projects, creative journaling, drumming, storytelling, internally-inspired movement, meditation, and more.
September 12 – 15, 2019
Read more at RediscoveringPlay.com
