This article explores the myth that we need drugs to bring out our creativity. Find out what usually blocks us from expressing our creativity and how you can overcome them so that you can express your creativity naturally. that they have relied on the substance to see them through every task that requires effort. Even when under the influence of the substance their cognition may be impaired and their senses dulled, they have come to belief that they can get through their day-to-day activities quicker and easier. Without the substance, they fear, life would be boring and flat, as the substance has enabled them to go to certain places they otherwise would not (or be able to) go mainly related to their self-expressions. Creativity isnt just for the creative types or those with too much time sitting in front of a piece of paper or canvas trying to produce creative works. It is a much needed quality in every aspect of our lives. What is creativity? Creativity is, to me, simply the ability to put ideas together in new ways. It may be expressed in the form of visual artwork (combining shapes, colours, textures, media in new ways), writing (combining words, concepts, storylines in new ways), or musical pieces (combining notes, rhythm, melodies, sounds, genres in new ways). We may also express creativity when finding solutions to tricky problems, and this may be expressed in the form of a unique business plan, a clever PR or lobbying campaign, a win-win action in a personal relationship issue, or a fantastic vacation trip. Therefore, without creativity, life would be pretty dull and mundane. In fact, the sense of deep fulfilment that comes from being creative is similar to life force itself. When we are being creative, we are in a flow of experiencing Passion and Inspiration a kind of hypnotic feeling that takes us to the part of us that is divinely powerful. I strongly believe it is a myth that we need drugs to reach our highest creative potential. Drugs do not contain a magical property that makes us creative. Rather, they remove our inhibition towards self-expression i.e. the mental/emotional block which gets in the way of our creativity flowing is removed for us so that we are able to express ourselves without censoring. With our inhibition removed, we become more daring in expressing ourselves, bypassing any fear of rejection and
There is a belief among many whose profession lies in churning out creative works that drugs enable them to tap into their creative well, that without drugs they could never produce the works that have earned them their professional recognition. Writers, musicians, artists whose lifestyles involve indulging in too much drugs and alcohol usually find it a huge struggle to give up the substance theyve become addicted to when they embark on stopping their subtance abuse. This is the main challenge for every creative type individual I have worked with in addiction. On a lesser level, even those who are not dependent on creative output for a living also struggle with the idea that their creativity may be dampened when they stop using. By the time someone comes to rehab, their substance abuse usually has become so deeply entrenched and intertwined in every facet of their lives
inadequacies that usually cause us to close the door to our inner creative source. As we continue to keep that door opened, our creative energy is able to flow freely, and we are able to sense the deep fulfilment that comes from being creative. Whether we use drugs or not, our creativity will flow with the absence of that block. Therefore, the underlying issues behind the block need to be addressed and alternative ways of removing the block explored in the treatment of substance abuse for those who strongly depend on their substance of choice to boost their creative output. In the same way that people consume alcohol or drugs to boost their social confidence believing that they need that substance to take away the discomfort of interacting with others and to allow them to feel free in expressing themselves drugs and alcohol have become a quick way, a short cut, to reach our space of creativity. The function of the substance in both cases is the same: to remove the layer of fear which prevents us from freely expressing ourselves.
something different or differently, and being spontaneous. Movement breaks down the blocks to creativity. The way I see it, drugs work because it creates movement on a more micro level. It changes the bio-chemicals in our body and puts us in a different state. Rather than attributing any increased creativity to the actual biochemical changes, I attribute it to the fact that there has been movement. The movement itself, not the nature of the changes, is what triggers creativity. There is a psychological factor of expecting drugs to do certain magic which promotes a bigger expectation of change, which in turn encourages more actual change. Yet it is this expectation that results in bigger or more movement, which breaks down the block. Another way of creating movement is by reaching deeper into your creative source. If youve been used to having drugs in your system, the absence of drugs will leave you vulnerable to raw emotions. Staying in that space of vulnerability and being honest about what is there will allow you to reach places deep within yourself and bring out more authentic expressions. As a result, your creative output will tend to have a more personal, authentic flavour. It may take time to get to this place as it takes courage to remain vulnerable and look at yourself honestly. But the rewards are worth the trust and patience it takes. With time, you will find that the works you produce will be better than ever. In the course of reaching this space, you may feel flat at times as if there is nothing there. Where there appears to be nothing, there is silence. Drop into the space of silence. It is the realm where everything is found. Its a free fall into your creative source. Without trying to conjure up anything, ideas will flow naturally. Immersing yourself in silence is like standing before the very point of creation where the infinite potential of creativity is about to explode into manifestation. Two weeks ago, I was inside an abandoned tunnel that was totally devoid of light and sound, where I had a cool experience of being simultaneously at the beginning and the end of Creation. I was the Creator standing in infinite space a blank canvas for my creativity. Yet the nothingness contained an infinity of everything that is possible. The silence within us can lead us to that space.
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