Creative Life
Playing  And Aging
We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dream, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don’t even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and stay in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything, I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what they did, but rather for the things they did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.
CREATIVE LIFE - A huge river of creativity could be coursing through you any time you allow it. What creative activities did you love as a child? Where are they in your life now? How do you interpret the world best - Music? Dance? Art? Cooking? Gardening? Connecting with that river is one of the highest and best uses of time.
Novelty and Creativity
Who doesn’t like novelty? Most people, no matter their age, seem to be interested in anything that is new different or unusual and it usually seems to attract our attention. Whether it’s visiting and exploring a new place, working in a new job, finding a new hobby, creating a work of art, having a new computer or even making a new friend, anything that distracts us from the ordinary usually captures our attention.
There is an old saying that goes “familiarity breeds contempt”. And it is certainly true that familiarity leads to restlessness and tedium. So, it seems that exploring something new is actually built into our psyche. Perhaps it’s because of evolution, the need to be curious to help in finding new food sources, or new ways of living that just may make life just a little less dangerous or easier.
Finding something novel or unfamiliar to us always engages our brain which often means we are learning something new. Novelty is nature’s way of motivating us to learn new things. Novelty enhances survivability and the ability to thrive in the environment in which we find ourselves. Another benefit of learning is that it helps to further enhance our abilities in exploring and taking advantage of these novel situations or ideas; in other words, it further augments our mental abilities by increasing brain plasticity.
We are also creatures of habit – who would be willing to take the time to think up a new strategy to avoid danger if a saber tooth tiger lurking in the bushes was about to pounce on us? Danger aside, too much habitual behavior can also be problematic. When the well runs dry it’s time to think up a new strategy to find water instead of waiting around with insatiable thirst for the well to replenish itself. So, like most things in life, habitual behavior and creative or novel thinking requires balance and depend upon a particular situation in which we find ourselves.
What happens we lose the zest for exploring new things, skills or ideas? Boredom sets in. We may feel stuck in a rut just going through the motions of the same never-ending daily routine. Predictability can be comfortable and doing something new can lead to unpredictable outcomes which can create uncertainty or even anxiety. But too much predictability in our lives can make us feel restless, indifferent, stuck and even uninspired. We lose interest in our surroundings and even the people we care about. Eventually we may even become depressed and it is well known that chronic depression can lead to failing physical health.
Studies have shown a positive correlation between novelty, creativity and well-being. They suggest that novel and creative activities can contribute to better emotional regulation and overall well-being. Engaging in these activities can improve mental health by reducing stress, enhancing mood, and providing a sense of fulfillment. They can serve as therapeutic tools, helping us manage emotions and develop coping strategies. Finally, novelty and creativity can improve our cognitive flexibility, which can be beneficial for mental health by allowing us to adapt to challenging situations more effectively.
These studies have also shown that the psyche’s reaction to novelty increases endorphins, such as dopamine levels, in the brain. Dopamine is often referred to as the brain's “reward chemical” that is closely related to motivation to seek rewards. So, when we see novelty, it has the potential of rewarding us of by increasing the levels of endorphins, the “feel good” hormones released in our brain. Again, this is evolution's way of insuring motivation to always be on the lookout to help us survive and even thrive in the environment in which we find ourself.
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To enhance novelty in your life
Explore or do something new - Each time you explore something new, or review information that you already knew, add a twist to it or dig a little deeper but always relate it to something you already know. This will train your mind to recognize new information or situations more easily because it’s related to something you already know. It will also help you to remember the experience better.
Change your routine and your environment - A new environment, or experiencing something previously unfamiliar to you can offer a huge number of novel stimuli for your mind. However, you may want to be careful not to overstimulate as that can also lead to anxiety or even more uncomfortable feelings.
Do something creative – Take up a new hobby, learn something new like taking up a foreign language, join a new organization, explore new places by taking an exotic trip, get that degree you always wanted, learn to play a musical instrument, write a novel or make a new friend.
A special mention for Creativity
Perhaps one of the best ways to experience novelty is to enhance your creativity. Creativity refers to the ability to form novel and valuable ideas or works of art using our imagination. Being creative involves utilizing critical thinking and/or motor skills that allow us to "think or act outside the box" and come up with original solutions to problems or identify new opportunities or to achieve new goals. Creativity is not limited to artistic or more conventional fields; we encounter the need for it in all areas of our lives, including in our personal lives, in sports, in science, in technology, and in business.
Engaging in creative activities can significantly improve mental health by offering several benefits:
• Stress and Anxiety Relief: Creative activities such as painting, music, and crafting help reduce stress and anxiety by providing a calming outlet for emotions.
• Improved Mood and Well-being: Engaging in creative pursuits can boost mood and overall sense of well-being by releasing endorphins, like dopamine, which are associated with feelings of happiness, motivation and satisfaction.
• Increased Confidence and Self-Esteem: Participating in creative activities can enhance confidence and self-esteem, as we experience a sense of accomplishment from our creations.
• Mindfulness and Focus: Creative activities promote mindfulness and focus, helping us quiet our minds and reduce distractions, which can be beneficial for mental health.
• Therapeutic Benefits: Creative activities can serve as a form of therapy, helping us process emotions and cope with traumatic experiences.
Overall, incorporating creative activities into daily life can be a valuable tool for maintaining and improving mental and emotional health.
We hope that the videos below will help provide insights to improve many aspects of novelty and creativity in your life.
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