Creative Rhythm

“Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the ‘creative bug’ is just a wee voice telling you, ‘I’d like my crayons back, please.” ~ Hugh MacLeod

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is considered by some in the psychology field as a pioneer. He has coined the term “flow” to mean “a heightened state of focus and immersion in activities such as art, play, and work.” He has studied artists, musicians, and creative business moguls and compiled a list of qualities that they all seem to have in common. When I read the list, it spoke volumes to me. I thought we might unpack each one starting with: 

1. Creative people have a great deal of physical energy, but they’re also often quiet and at rest.

Our bodies have a natural rhythm. Studies show that in order to live in optimal health, our bodies need to harmonize with this circadian rhythm that mimics earth’s 24 hour light/dark cycle. But have you ever known someone that seems to function better in the wees hours of the morning, or the darkest part of the night? It is not uncommon in my house for my husband to come down the stairs at 6am to get his coffee only to find that its cold because I made it around 4. I do my best writing before anyone else in the house gets up. 

I have a fourteen year old son that is highly creative. We had always homeschooled and decided when he was in fifth grade to put him and his brother in public school. I noticed that my younger son flourished, but my fourteen year old was coming home from school exhausted and depressed. Over the next few years, his whole outlook changed. He was withdrawn and obliviously not happy. This year, we went back to homeschooling him and left his brother to maneuver the mad house known as middle school. 

Our school day begins by reading our Bibles and praying. We immerse ourselves in good literature. We discuss ideas. And, right now we are enjoying a documentary that chronicles the birth of civilization through art that was left behind in antiquity. Then my son works happily on his own in the afternoons. He organizes his time. He ends his day with self-taught drawing lessons and then I hear the squeal of the amp as his electric guitar begins to sing. 

My son looks happy. There is a peacefulness about him that is noticeable. He is writing poetry that is beautiful. I believe the change has occurred because he is allowed to flow in his creative rhythm. I get it because I am just like him. I can push myself beyond my limits and accomplish many tasks. However, when I was his age, I couldn’t. I would end up depressed and shut down. Even to this day, I need to be able to flow according to my own creative rhythm or I begin to notice pain – pain in my shoulders, pain in my neck, headaches, soul-aches… 

But when the pressure to live up to someone else’s schedule is taken off, I find that I have days that are a flurry of creative expression that generate a week’s worth of productivity. Those creative days are usually followed by a need for quiet. Yes, my body requires rest, but it’s my soul that I find needs nurturing. Many of us berate ourselves thinking we just can’t hit the mark. We believe we are just not good enough, when in fact, we may just need to adjust our expectations and allow for creativity to find its flow. I know that we cannot always determine our own schedule but start with this: ask Jesus to help you find your God created rhythm. When you begin to notice yourself absently moving to the beat – just dance. 

And, don’t be afraid to march to the beat of a different drum…it makes beautiful music…