Mindful Hack #86

Pressure stifles creativity and there have been many studies conducted to prove it. One study published in the Harvard Business Review outlined some particularly interesting findings: 
 

• People are largely unaware of the fact they’re less creative under pressure and in fact believe themselves to be more creative

• On high-pressure days, people were 45% less likely to think creatively than they were on the lower-pressure days

• Creative thinking is suppressed for a couple of days after the pressure is gone

 
When was the last time a great idea came to you when you were at your desk, furiously working against a deadline? Chances are far greater that the flash of inspiration happened when you were doing something else, like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. There’s nothing magical about routine acts of hygiene (though they are appreciated by others), they simply happen to create space in our minds for inspiration to spark.
 
I think you know by now I’m a big fan of meditation as a means for more mindfulness and presence in our lives. To let you in on a little secret, it also creates the same kind of space those mundane hygiene tasks do. Some of my best ideas have come to me when I’ve consciously quieting the noise and focusing within.
 
I’m just sayin’…


Mindfully yours,

Adriane