Creativity can be a tricky thing, can it not? For some folks it's that they believe they just are not creative or talented in any way. For others, it can be a struggle of harnessing that creative spirit or flow state so that it is present and flowing when you want it to be.
For me, having grown up in the arts as well as being born under the astrological sign of Pisces, creativity and imagination are a language I am fluent in. There are times, however, when I have forgotten how to tap into my creative power, and times when I have worked myself to death for fear of losing it, and also times when I felt the equivalent of "writer's block" thinking I was all dried up creatively speaking.
Whether you struggle with believing you are creative or find yourself blocked and unable to step into flow when you want to, Hypnosis, NLP, Yoga, and Meditation can help you be your best and most imaginative self!
I love the quote "Impossible starts with I'm possible!" Whatever you believe you will be saying to yourself in your own mind, and your subconscious mind is ALWAYS listening! So say only positive things to yourself - Be Encouraging like you would be to your best friend or even a small child!
Some folks worry they can't be hypnotized let alone shift their own beliefs, I know. Well, guess what? Hypnosis is a very natural state that we all enter into every day! We just are not often aware of it and therefore don't utilize this amazing state to our own advantage. The time right before you fall asleep and right when you first awaken- you know that in between sleep and awake state- that is known as the hypnagogic state or consciousness threshold! This tells us, by the way, that whatever we put into our minds right before sleep, our subconscious mind (which never sleeps) will work on throughout the night. This alone can be a wellspring of creativity. I "work" on countless projects while I sleep and you can too!
Going back to moving in and out of hypnosis...perhaps you've had the experience of driving the same way so many times whether it be to work or somewhere else that at some point you don't really recall the trip...you surely must have gotten off at your exit, but you don't recall it? We call that Highway Hypnosis! Or perhaps you've had the experience of watching a movie or reading a book (not a documentary, but a fictional work meant for entertainment), and despite knowing it is fictional, you found yourself getting mad, or sad, or laughing your butt off? Well guess what? It's all Hypnosis! Hypnosis happens. It involves using the imagination or creativity. So, you really do have this!
Now when it comes to being or getting into the flow state, that is a practice, but it is one you can certainly make easier to achieve. If you find yourself suffering from the equivalent of "writer's block", it is suggested that you sit down for 15 minutes at your creative station whether you have any ideas or not, and I do recommend it be early in your day so the mind is fresh and free. Eliminate any distractions and set a timer for 15 minutes. If at the end of that time all you have is doodles, so be it. They might just inspire you tomorrow, and you are training your brain. On the other hand, you may just find that 15 minutes was just enough time to get your toes dipped into your own creative flow and you might be off and running. If so, you can set your timer for another 15 minutes.
Why another 15 minutes you ask? Well because the next trick is to STOP yourself while you are still in the creative flow state! Yes, I know it sounds so counterintuitive, yet what happens when we do get into our flow state is we often operate from a scarcity mindset, thinking we need to keep going while we are "on" because we might lose this flow. Again, our subconscious mind is always listening and "hears" our scarcity thoughts and can fulfill them. Research also shows that when we become taskmasters/slave drivers on ourselves every time we are in creative flow, making ourselves work well into exhaustion out of this very fear and scarcity mindset, what we are actually doing is sending a message to our subconscious minds that every time it does allow us to enter into flow, we are going to have a marathon of work to do...working well into exhaustion in many cases, and guess what? Nobody wants to be tied to work for a 16 hour marathon! That is punishment for stepping into flow!
Studies show that stopping while you are in the flow state (it doesn't have to be for very long), and taking a short break at or around 25 minutes in whether it be to stretch, take some deep breaths, step outside for a walk in nature, or sip some tea will actually make you (and your subconscious mind) long to get back to your creative flow and work, which will also prolong your flow state, rest your body and mind, and ultimately teach your subconscious mind that flow and creativity are fun and can be tapped into whenever you desire! Happy flowing!