Still-at-toes

Freed from the frenzy,guile of freedom and extroversion, the exposed soft vellum that were just so getting used to the silken pain,the cutis still pink from the jostle, the tarsus yet arched...

Glistening red varnish accentuating the perfect curve,defining the attitude as if its the rush of blood down there to survive.Filed to perfection, an iota away from the kill,just enough to hurt it right...

Stilts stretched out to perfection, away from the envious stares...nets making hues, fishing for bold moves...calves at ease,having shadows running wild on the cold limbs...

A suffering so longed, a bruised encounter so cherished, a feeling of intimidation so missed, a pedestal awaiting...making me go back to wearing my heels again...

Wonderful Nothingness!

Nothing is a concept that describes the absence of anything. Colloquially, it is used to indicate the lack of anything relevant or significant, or to describe a particularly unimportant thing, event, or object.

Sometimes I find myself in this state of 'nothingness'.It just happens on its own.Seems like I am elevated to some other level. Where time seems to pass and activities seem to happen around me,but I am not having anything particular to do, to say. Seems like nothing affects me.

My readings in a few spiritual books define this state of nothingness as the ultimate achievement. A state where you are unified with your surroundings. a state of being oneself, being aware and being satisfied.The teachings gave a lot of importance to the techniques required to attain these sense of nothingness, it also preached, that if you look too much for it, you wont find it-for its not there outside,but within oneself.

Its s state of ultimate calmness, with our own self, others.Acceptance of things as they are, free from any sort of questions, free from any kind of burden- just blissful solitude and peace.

Sometimes in my hyper active life, I mentally yearn for this kind of nothingness, and I feel blessed to achieve the same without much effort...or maybe there is effort...the effort of doing too many things,thinking too much...after which the mind gives way to this blissful state...

Constructive Tension

I came across this great concept while reading "The Opposable Mind: How Successful Leaders Win Through Integrative Thinking" by Roger Martin, Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business School Press, 2007

The crux of the book is that we were born with an opposable mind we can use to hold two conflicting ideas in constructive tension. We can use that tension to think our way through to a new and superior idea.

It's not so much that this is a shockingly new thesis-it sounds rather like the concept of a dialectic that fuelled Marx's work, for example. Instead, it is Martin's framing of this old idea that makes it both novel and relevant today. The notion that there is a unique functionality embedded in the human brain, which allows us to overcome problems and quandaries, as well as synthesize competing options and creative solutions, is powerfully hopeful.

According to Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, many great business leaders have the knack of holding two contradictory ideas in their heads and using the friction and energy from this opposition to fashion, over time, a third and better idea.

I am amazed by the breadth of application that this concept has.The general skill or discipline is applicable to almost any human endeavour. The book has many corporate and a few non-corporate illustrations demonstrating the application of this concept.

Its definatelly worth a read.

Multithinking & Not Multitasking Is The Key To Creativity

I was recently doing a self SWOT analysis, where the debate erupted between multitasking and multithinking. I was pondering on "What is my actual strength?" After much deliberation and introspection, i decided I am "Multi-Thinker" rather than a "Multi-Tasker"

I expect you are familiar with multitasking: the ability to perform more than one task simultaneously. Managers who like to overwork their employees love multitasking. They assume that if their employees are performing three tasks simultaneously, they'll work three times as fast.

The logic in that assumption is so thoroughly flawed, it is hard to believe that intelligent managers accept it without question. Perhaps they are too desperate to improve employee productivity.

Logic suggests two points:

1. No one can actually perform several tasks simultaneously. Rather they quickly switch from one task to the other. Hence, all things being equal, multitasking should be no faster than monotasking (that's my own word, incidentally).

2. Bearing in mind point 1, it would seem that a person would require a certain amount of time to switch from one task to the other. Even if that time is tiny, it would add up after numerous switches from task to task. This would suggest that multitasking is actually slower than monotasking.

As it turns out an even more reputable source than me confirms the above two points. In a paper published by the American Psychological Association: “Executive Control of Cognitive Processes in Task Switching”, authors Joshua S. Rubinstein, David E. Meyer and Jeffrey E. Evans confirm what logic tells us. You can download the paper as a PDF at http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/xhp274763.pdf or read the press release at www.apa.org/releases/multitasking.html.

Although multitasking turns out to be counter-productive, multithinking (another word of mine!) is a different matter all together. Multithinking is thinking about completely different issues or tasks at the same time.

Whether you multitask or not, you almost certainly have numerous tasks awaiting your attention at any given time. And it is inevitable that your mind occasionally turns to one task while you are working on another. A multitasker would be inclined to switch tasks at this point. I recommend you stick to the task at hand, but keep a notebook – or at least some paper – nearby when performing any tasks. (Indeed, if you've been reading Report 103 for any length of time, you will know that I recommend having a notebook with you all the time). When the mind turns from the task at hand to another task, simply note down your thoughts in the notebook. Then return to the task at hand.

This simple action does several things at once. Firstly, It allows you to maintain your focus on the task at hand. By making a note of your thought, you are clearing your mind of the distracting idea. This can only improve your focus on the task at hand.

Secondly, when the action of performing task A inspires an idea relevant to task B, it is very often the case that the idea is a creative one that would not have come to mind had we been focusing on task B. In other words, multithinking often inspires creative ideas.

Thirdly, if performing task A provides inspirations for task B, you may come across synergies between the two tasks; synergies which reduce your overall workload – and actually improve your productivity. Such synergies are best discovered through multithinking. Indeed, when ideas come to mind. Do not simply write them down. Try to draw links between your ideas for task B and task A.

Frankly, one of the best places to multithink is during transit, meetings etc. During travelling or general discussions, I have often filled pages of my notebook on ideas relevant to other tasks – and have still followed the lourney or the flow of the meeting.

On the other hand, even as I write this, I have one notepad open on my laptop– and I am slowly filling it up.

So remember. If you want to be more creatively productive. Don't multitask. Multithink!

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Based on an article (by Jeffrey Baumgartner) published in Report103, 1 Feb 2005 issue

Not Creative Enough? Try These...

1. Listen to music by Johann Sebastian Bach. If Bach doesn't make you more creative, you should probably see your doctor - or your brain surgeon if you are also troubled by headaches, hallucinations or strange urges in the middle of the night.
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2.Brainstorm. If properly carried out, brainstorming can help you not only come up with sacks full of new ideas, but can help you decide which is best.
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3.Always carry a small notebook and a pen or pencil around with you. That way, if you are struck by an idea, you can quickly note it down. Upon rereading your notes, you may discover about 90% of your ideas are daft. Don't worry, that's normal. What's important are the 10% that are brilliant.

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4.If you're stuck for an idea, open a dictionary, randomly select a word and then try to formulate ideas incorporating this word. You'd be surprised how well this works. The concept is based on a simple but little known truth: freedom inhibits creativity. There are nothing like restrictions to get you thinking.

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5.Define your problem. Grab a sheet of paper, electronic notebook, computer or whatever you use to make notes, and define your problem in detail. You'll probably find ideas positively spewing out once you've done this.

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6.If you can't think, go for a walk. A change of atmosphere is good for you and gentle exercise helps shake up the brain cells.

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7.Don't watch TV. Experiments performed by the JPB Creative Laboratory show that watching TV causes your brain to slowly trickle out your ears and/or nose. It's not pretty, but it sure does happens.

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8.Don't do drugs. People on drugs think they are creative. To everyone else, they seem like people on drugs. lol.

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9.Read as much as you can about everything possible. Books exercise your brain, provide inspiration and fill you with information that allows you to make creative connections easily.

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10. Exercise your brain. Brains, like bodies, need exercise to keep fit. If you don't exercise your brain, it will get flabby and useless. Exercise your brain by reading a lot (see above), talking to clever people and disagreeing with people - arguing can be a terrific way to give your brain cells a workout. But note, arguing about politics or film directors is good for you; bickering over who should clean the dishes is not.

Can Creativity Be Created?

One of the oldest questions which still remain unanswered is- Can creativity be created? People have debated endlessly on different opinions but no concrete evidence justifies the source, the germination point of creativity. Is it inbuilt strength or can it be cultivated? The tug-of-war still continues. Thus creativity is said to be loosely balancing itself of the various foundations established by versatile thinkers.

As a widely accepted fad, creativity belongs to the domain of Psychology & Cognitive Sciences wherein creative processes are primarily mental representations. A psychodynamic approach to understanding creativity was proposed by Sigmund Freud, who suggested that creativity arises as a result of frustrated desires for fame, fortune, and love, with the energy that was previously tied up in frustration and emotional tension in the neurosis being sublimated into creative activity.
Another school of thought suggest that creativity is a developed ability. As a person grows, there are many environmental, personal, psychological, emotional & physiological factors which make him creative. The ability which was non existent before gets developed and polished over a time making a person more attune with creative finesse.
Generally it is also believed that creativity is the direct function of freedom. More a person can exercise his freedom, the more creatively expressive he becomes. Such varied thoughts about creativity, its origin and its possible applications in all spheres of life makes the study of Creativity very complex but at the same time very interesting.
As the debate continues, we wait under the modern day apple tree and wait for an apple to fall. Maybe that might give us the right answer!