Wowwwww, I haven't written in ages. 1. I was on vacation 2. I'm writing more poetry 3. I've had busy weekends filled with Chicago fun 4. I'm getting into new shoes 5. umm I've ran out of excuses?! Sorrrrrry blog :( I'll make it up to you eventually
Ok... here is a little snippet
Correlations between creativity and emotions
Correlations between creativity (which I know is a subjective term) and emotions. In my experience the more pain I feel the more creative I am. Sometimes effortlessly. The words and thoughts come pouring out and I love it. I think it's a beautiful thing. I think its because when you are not in pain, you don't reflect as much. You go about your day not worrying what will come next because you are happy with the way things are now. When I'm upset I ponder and freely let my mind wander down whichever avenue it wants. I let the thoughts come and go as they please, not worried about anything but me!
I love my creative juices. What I write or think might not be genius, award winning work, but at the time, it feels beautiful. I sit back, take a deep breath, and whatever is in my mind I let come out. This is an amazing process, someone sort of like a drug for me. Not only does it soothe me, but it makes me want more, which makes me feel deeper.
The only problem with this process, for me, is that in the past it has never worked when I am 100% satisfied with my life. When I'm comfortable, I'm boring. My work sucks, and I have no need to put forth any effort. Does anyone else ever feel this way? "Why can't I be creative now?" is the thought that always floods my mind.
Is it because happy things dont make good subject matters? The apparently don't for me. Whenever I try to write when I'm happy everything comes out trivial and lame. I always say "No one ever wants to talk about how good things are" As much as people say they hate the news for always showing the bad things that are happening they have to realize that if that was the majority opinion then newspapers wouldn't sell. Or if they did sell, they would only be filled with good things. Car bombings, people getting arrested? This is what sells, not something like how well a company is doing. Now of course I can't argue that all works that contain happy subject matters suck, of course not, but a story, for me, is more compelling when someone struggles. Sure at the end they can end up on top and that would be great, but to hear the tragedies of others, that's what drives us....
More coming later
Nothing but love
If you think about it you're right.
ReplyDeleteNo one wants to hear about what makes other people happy. This is why the blues were and are so popular. The reason being, on the larger part of the whole, the society we live in has been trained to be discontent with their lives.
Even when people succeed, triumph, and emerge victorious, the celebrations and happy feelings are quickly repressed by the thoughts on how they could succeed better, more efficiently next time. Even more common is the act of attributing these successes to plain old luck.
And then there are the rare times when luck isn't involved, and people have nothing to criticize in regards to someone's triumph. Yes, these times are increasingly rare but when these happen, more often then not they are quickly played off and people aren't given the time to be happy in their selves. As inane as it might seem, society labels any self glory or compliment, even when deserved or justified, to be narcissism and conceit.
Of course, the problem you are experiencing could be that writing while happy simply isn't your style, and that causes you to think that what your mind has spilled onto paper is garbage. Believe me, even as an artist, it happens far too frequently. While you may not like it, it doesn't mean that what you have produced is actually "trivial and lame". It just seems that way to you. Not everything has to exhibit the sharp tones and dark contrast (yes, even in writing)for it to be quality. Some of the best poetry that I have read has been happy. What you have to do, or at least what I do, is find what inspires you and gets those creative juices going both in times of comfort and in times of turmoil. By doing so, while I still am more creative at some times more than others, I can be creative whenever I need to be; including while feeling happy.