Distraction Creativity
My motive for writing this post is a comment that Mohammed Sultan on my recent post ”Ideas Springs”. Part of his comment says “The perversity of nature is clearly demonstrated by the fact that, when exposed to the same atmosphere bread becomes hard. Exactly the same the "piles of ideas" become hard and empty if we are not creative enough to turn them into concepts and branded solutions”.
The topic of strange behaviors kindled my interest. There are many strange things in life and it is from this strangeness that we arouse our wonderment and hence creativity. The world around us if full of example of strange behaviors such as those of creative and famous people, strange animals and plants behaviors, strange materials and thoughts. These strange behaviors are the niches that creative people invest in.
One of the strange behaviors of creative people is that they distracting sounds like that of the chewing gum. Recent research attributed this the leaking sensory gating (inhibition). It is like when you slide on a hill and something distracts you. You don’t then pay attention to the slide, but more to the distraction making you worry-free from the slide. Focusing on the distraction may lead to creative ideas. The stranger the distractions are, the more potential creative ideas would flow.
Back to the chewing gum example. Not only we chew gum; we chew memories, sawdust, chewing on old hate in times of peace and tobacco. Yes, there are people who chew sawdust and even fine sands. Instead of mocking at these strange behaviors they offer us an opportunity to generate creative ideas. Are you distracted by reading this? Well, then you are on a creative journey.
We keep saying that people who keep chewing past memories have no time left to think of the future. My response is this isn’t necessarily true. The distraction of the past could be the seed of great ideas. The stranger distractions are the greater creativity is possible.
Waters in our bodies has strange behaviors. A material has just been discovered that becomes less conductive to electricity if heated contrasting established facts. This finding is opening up new fields of research to unveil the nature of this distracting strange behavior. Strangeness and creativity are intertwined. Similarly, rubber bands shrink upon heating in violation of established behaviors that materials expand on heating. We tend to consider these behaviors noises. In fact, they are the equivalent to chewing gum noise that make creative people more creative. Noises are welcome for creative people.
Just think of the strange behaviors of fractals and the huge interests they evoked on many research fronts.
The literature is rich of examples of animals and plants that have very strange behaviors. That is the subject for a future post.
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Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #40
Fay Vietmeier The tradition here is that a girl lives with her family till she gets married, Yesm Sara h felt lonely as she is very closely tied to her sisters. I shall share your post with Sarah a soon as she wakes up.I agree with you if whom we love are happy their happiness spreads to us.
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #39
@AliAnani I appreciate your sharing about the wedding Yes ... your family tree has a new limb ... we shall see how it blossoms Was Sarah sad because her sister has begun a new life? (not sure if Satanieh was still living at home or if Sarah does) We must each sow into our own life and "blossom" ... the scent & beauty will overflow into the lives around us This came to mind: perhaps you can share it with Sarah and let her know that I send my greeting & a warm hug ;~) https://www.bebee.com/producer/@fay-vietmeier-pennsylvania/becoming-your-best-you-and-how-the-light-helps-you-grow As always wishing God's rich wisdom & blessings upon your life & family
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #38
Fay Vietmeier Thank you for your very kind words. The wedding was fantastic. Lots of fun, good food and merry atmosphere. Tomorrow the newly-married couple will fly to the capital Of beBee and that is Madrid. Few days later they fly to Barbados.This is life. One cycle ends and another begins. Thank you for visiting the slide on the windmill and for your supportive appreciation. The only sad thing that happened is that my youngest daughter Sarah felt lonely and she cried upon returning home from the wedding party. Today, she is OK. I haven't forgotten the Straighten Your Cap comment. I shall be writing about it soon. Great friend you are, Fay.
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #37
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #36
Fay Vietmeier My good friend- today is the big day. I thank you for your wishes. May God bless you and your family
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #35
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #34
Fay Vietmeier Hi Fay- responding to your comments means generating new ideas and reviving old dreams. As for distraction- yes, for the logical thinker they are distracting. However, for the creative thinker research has shown that distraction boosts creativity. This is a surprising research finding. You "accused me of "being a "You are a thinking “wind mill” my dear Professor". I feel my head is exploding wit surprise 🤯🤯🤯 Isn't it surprising that you used the word windmill? This reminds me of my presentation on "The wind of emotions in storytelling". I use the windmill metaphor in storytelling. https://www.slideshare.net/hudali15/the-wind-of-emotions-in-storytelling Your response to the comment of Mohammed Sultan is beautiful. Do we act like bread upon exposure and become harder, or do we react like like crackers upon the same exposure and soften? Same with ideas as they may harden or soften with time. I am chewing your comment.
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #33
@AliAnani You are a thinking “wind mill” my dear Professor "Distraction" is like trying to swim in a pool of honey ... (that could be a sweet experience and-or very difficult) 1) “strange behaviors” abound ;~) as do “strange thoughts” ;~) 2) My first thought is that “distraction” … disturbs … deters & disrupts the ability to focus (my human-opinion) From being creative … is just one effect This (sometimes) focus-challenged bee does NOT like to be “distracted” unless I am being directed toward something more edifying or productive “Distraction” (like busyness & “noise”) is a thief & robs people of their focus (this can be applied personally, professionally, spiritually … not only of creativity but of quality in relationships & productivity in work 3) As I stated to @Mohammed in “Ideas Spring” “The perversity of nature is clearly demonstrated by the fact that, when exposed to the same atmosphere bread becomes hard. Exactly the same the "piles of ideas" become hard and empty if we are not creative enough to turn them into concepts and branded solutions” ~Mohammed Perversity of nature is also human nature … the life of a person will reflect good or wrong-doing … even to the extent of evil Some “atmospheres” turn hearts “hard” … That is why God admonishes: “Above everything, guard your heart for it is the well-spring of life” 3) “Piles of IDEAS that become hard & empty” … We all have them ;~) As time-bound creatures … we are found flitting from day to day and task to task … we do indeed get “distracted” … the challenge is being ordered & organized & focused 4) “Chewing the past” … may be helpful if the reason is to glean lessons
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #32
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #31
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #30
I agree Franci\ud83d\udc1dEugenia Hoffman, beBee Brand Ambassador and this explains why I added this example in the post.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #29
Quite interesting and opens up new possibilities for great discussions.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #28
I have just noticed your comment Harvey Lloyd and yes,strange experiences is food for thought. Your daughters must be happy to be their father.
John Rylance
منذ 4 سنوات #27
I might add for discussions that get intense, idiomatically could be described as chewing on a bone, which follows from posts that are scrutinised from all angles show the author to be like a dog with a bone.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #26
John Rylance- Great example and I like it. I could extend the thoughts as I say our thoughts often "chew the fact". By this I mean we are in agreement.
John Rylance
منذ 4 سنوات #25
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #24
I shall do soon Proma \ud83d\udc1d Nautiyal
Proma Nautiyal
منذ 4 سنوات #23
That would be great, Ali \ud83d\udc1d Anani, Brand Ambassador @beBee...I am looking forward to reading it.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #22
Harvey Lloyd- in your comment you wrote ""Don't be a traffic cone". This triggered the idea of my next post. Thank you and please keep commenting you are an inspiration for new ideas.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #21
You know dear Proma \ud83d\udc1d Nautiyal. Your minds and hearts are so charming. This comment of yours, Proma, stands out. Yes, context and perception are two key factors and I like the way they interact and the way you explained them. Yes, in creativity we can't tell the outcome as it emerges from how we interact these factors. As ideas emerge, they shall be different from one person to another. They are not prone to planning. I appreciate greatly your kind words and I am glad the post resonates with you.
Proma Nautiyal
منذ 4 سنوات #20
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #19
Well, then Kevin I hope I am distracting yo.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #18
Great and the hurdles are the same,,but indifferent places. I truly love this. Your comments are so "mature" that I find sometimes nothing to add except for nodding my head in approval. You explained what is commonly known as "risk appetite" in a wonderful way. I shall be returning to this comment for it deserves highlighting.
Harvey Lloyd
منذ 4 سنوات #17
Risk isn't for everyone. I believe certain personality types it comes easier. But there are some caveats. One of my favorite sayings is, "Don't be a traffic cone". If you are unwilling to take the risk then allow someone who is willing to do so, do so. Its their risk to take. Encourage advise or otherwise inspire. Don't be a traffic cone in their journey of walking with strange. Strange will deivert/propel them if they listen. Secondly don't complain. If you are unwilling to stretch yourself to reach what you perceive as the top shelf, don't deny those who did. Be happy that they were able to stretch that far. I believe any personality type can be successful through balanced risk. The need for balance comes from the person, not the environment. I want to be successful, i am taking the risk and therefore i must set the schedule of time and values. If i loss control of these variables then i am taking a risk someone else has handed me. With each personality type the hurdles are the same height, just in different places. So when i hear one complaining about the hurdles to success it is them thinking that they have had special hurdles. I have heard many personality types discuss their success. The one thing absent is their belief that hurdles are different heights for different people. No they know that you just have to run the race, take your lumps of the hurdles that get you and eventually you learn the gauntlet according to your style. You are what you risk for. Be glad in it.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #16
The two lessons resonate with me. I just wonder what you think of people who refrain from engaging in any risk.
Harvey Lloyd
منذ 4 سنوات #15
I speak to young people as they get to experience the 1st. in so many areas of their life. I have experienced many first and been blessed with taking away the wisdom of success and failure. First date jitters, First kiss, first driving, marriage, children finance. I have been around the horn with many challenges. ALthough wiser for the journey i do miss those first time jitters of adventuring way outside my comfort zone. I learned a valuable lesson from my two daughters in discussing my wisdom with them. I learned that i shouldn't take away the adventure by sharing all of my experiences. They needed to embrace the strange as a friend and walk with it as they found the wisdom it wanted to share.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #14
Somehow you remind me of my teaching at a university. Two female students were also sitting next to me in the French classes in the evening. I was their professor at daytime and their peer student at night. That was a strange experience. I believe it is never too late to learn and coaches should welcome spirited people. Strange challenges is my take away from your comment.
Harvey Lloyd
منذ 4 سنوات #13
I learned from that and became wiser as a coach but it helped tremendously in business. I learned that if you are engaged in risk, and learning, listen to the coach. He just might have some wisdom he can share. I also learned through business that all kinds of coaches exist. They might not have the title but if we listen while in the strangeness risk often provides, a coach always shows up.
Harvey Lloyd
منذ 4 سنوات #12
I went to a college campus to receive training that would enable me to coach High School Soccer (Football everywhere else but here). A little background, i was 40 years old, not in shape and was their with all college players. It was my turn to set up and perform my submitted practice. It was to complex. The college players couldn't understand what i was trying to do within the training. So i amped up the coaching on the same thing. We got through it but it was ugly, to put in without censorship. The three college coaches came over with stern looks and asked what i thought about the practice. My immediate response was the players didn't understand....They asked if i had come to be a player or a coach? I said coach and began to bristle up. I was meeting the strangeness of less than perfect learning within the curve. One coach broke the reverie of my discontent with a hearty laugh. He informed me that i was unable to adapt and overcome. Every coach sometimes puts together a busted practice schedule. Every good coach has a back up plan that is way over simplified. He told me to much information input is a sure sign you need to get back to the point and be fundamental.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #11
Glenn Melcher- your subtle comment reminds me of my buzz "Homogenization of Ideas" and how to make the incompatible compatible creatively: https://www.bebee.com/producer/@ali-anani/homogenization-of-opinions Thank you for reminding me of my own work and for opening up my mind to an idea for a forthcoming post. I wonder what Harvey Lloyd would comment. I am just curious.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #10
Thank you Victor Alston for stopping by. You are most welcome to beBee platform.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #9
I wonder if you could give examples of strange habits/behaviors that you may have encountered, Harvey.
Glenn Melcher
منذ 4 سنوات #8
Harvey Lloyd
منذ 4 سنوات #7
That will preach.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #6
Vert-well said Cyndi wilkins.We tend to ridicule strange behaviors and in the process miss their creativity potential. Yes, it is the sensory system and its conditions that may distract us. But it is this distraction that we need to see the unusual. WE judge things fast and lose insights accordingly. II wish I could meet with your daughter. She seems to be quite creative and a source of creativity for others.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #5
Thank you dear Debasish Majumder for your unfailing support. Creativity is to produce ideas in the first stage. Only after then we sort out the quality of ideas. If we generate ideas and judge them then we may fall in the trap of rapid judgment and this is harmful for creativity. Good question my friend.
Cyndi wilkins
منذ 4 سنوات #4
Debasish Majumder
منذ 4 سنوات #3
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #2
Extremely illuminating thoughts my friend. I fully agree with you. Strangeness involves risk and only the genuine risk-takers would see the opportunity in the risk. As there is no darkness without light; there is no strangeness risk without a lightning opportunity. Yes, we label strange things as noise and this is the real strangeness we are accustomed to. It helps us understand "our surroundings" and see the opportunity instead of being blind to it.
Harvey Lloyd
منذ 4 سنوات #1