A Practical Alternative to Meditation
Introduction: The Myth of Meditation for Creativity
Many people believe that meditation is the key to quieting the mind and unlocking creativity. While this sounds appealing, it’s often impractical for those navigating lives full of worries and concerns. The idea of silencing thoughts through meditation may work for some, but for many—including myself—there’s a more effective approach: freeing up mental bandwidth by first identifying and then working to eliminate unnecessary distractions and worries. This process gradually creates space for the creative mind to emerge and flourish.
The Nature of Creativity: An Unfiltered Connection to the Higher Mind
I’ve come to believe that creativity is not a rare gift given to a select few—it’s an innate human ability. As children, we tap into creativity effortlessly because our minds are not yet consumed by responsibilities, anxieties, and external pressures. As we grow, some people find that these concerns take up more space, making creative flow more difficult to access, while others seem to navigate them with greater ease. The extent to which worries and responsibilities interfere with creativity varies from person to person, influenced by individual temperament, life circumstances, and learned coping mechanisms.
Today’s world presents an even greater challenge: young people are bombarded with digital distractions, social media pressures, and an overload of external influences from an early age. This constant stimulation trains their minds to focus outward rather than inward, leaving little room for imagination and original thought. The ability to create isn’t lost—it’s like a seed, full of potential. When planted in the right conditions—with the right balance of inspiration, freedom, and nurturing—it can grow and flourish. But when the conditions aren’t ideal, that creative spark may remain dormant, waiting for the kinds of attention required for it to be able to emerge.
What Blocks Creativity?
Creativity thrives in an uncluttered mind, but there are several common obstacles that interfere:
- Physical Concerns – Discomfort, pain, or fatigue take up mental space. When the body is in distress, it demands attention, leaving less energy for creativity.
- Intellectual & Emotional Concerns – Pressures from work, responsibilities, social expectations, and digital distractions dominate thoughts, making it difficult to tap into creative flow. Addressing these concerns is essential, and while this article does not cover specific strategies, seeking help through therapy, self-reflection, or learning from books and other resources can provide valuable tools for managing the mental environment necessary for creativity.
- Spiritual Concerns – While worth exploring, this is often the last barrier to creativity, as more immediate concerns tend to consume attention first.
The more these concerns take up bandwidth, the harder it becomes to access creativity. Clearing these burdens—rather than forcing the mind into stillness—is the key to creative flow.
The ‘Happy Baby’ State: A Key to Creative Flow
Creativity flourishes when the mind is in a state of ease. I call this the Happy Baby State—a state of mind where the ego, like a child, is simply pursuing pleasure instead of expending energy trying to overcome or avoid some pain or discomfort. The ego isn’t inherently a barrier to creativity; rather, it short-circuits creative flow when discomfort or stress takes over, shifting its focus toward escape or survival. Think of a baby playing with its toes, staring at the ceiling, completely absorbed in the present moment. In this state, the mind is free to wander, explore, and create.
Many great songwriters describe their early creativity as effortless—ideas streaming through them like a force beyond their control. However, as they grow older, the demands of life, success, and business take over. The lightning bolt of inspiration becomes rare. Why? Because their mental bandwidth is now consumed by obligations, not open to the infinite possibilities of the creative mind.
The Role of Craft Skills in Sustaining Creativity
When inspiration becomes less frequent, artists must rely on craft skills. James Taylor, Billy Joel, and Joni Mitchell have all spoken about the shift from effortless inspiration to intentional creativity. They stopped waiting for the muse and instead developed a process—one rooted in observation, skill, and discipline.
Inspiration is all around us, but only those who actively seek it will find it. This is where the role of the bard comes in. I have always seen myself as a bard—an observer and a reporter of the human experience. Creativity doesn’t require chasing an elusive muse; it requires paying attention to life and using skill to translate what you see into something meaningful.
Feelness and the Body’s Role in Creative Flow
When I shifted my focus from songwriting to movement and created Feelness, I wasn’t just addressing the need to manage and maintain physical well-being—I was protecting my creativity. As I got older, I began to experience firsthand how physical discomfort could drain my energy and limit my ability to connect with my creative source. Movement became a strategy for maintaining an environment conducive to creativity. By taking simple, principle-oriented steps to alleviate physical discomfort, I freed my mind from the impossible task of trying to manage it intellectually and emotionally. In doing so, I was able to successfully maintain my access to inspiration.
By keeping the body at ease and eliminating unnecessary worries, we create the optimal conditions for creative flow. This is not about forcing the mind to be quiet—it’s about acknowledging and, when possible, removing the cause of the noise that diminishes quality of life and reduces creative capacity.
Conclusion: A Practical Path to Creative Freedom
The key to staying connected to creativity isn’t forcing the mind into silence through meditation, but rather managing and organizing mental space. It’s not about achieving stillness, but about identifying and addressing unnecessary—and sometimes self-inflicted—worries, whether physical, intellectual, or emotional. By clearing these obstacles, we allow the mind to function more freely and creatively.
Creativity flourishes when we create the right conditions for it to emerge. While we can remain open to the lightning bolt of inspiration, we don’t have to wait for it or be paralyzed without it. By managing our mental space and addressing unnecessary worries, we make room for inspiration to flow naturally—as it did when we were children in the form of lightning bolts and sparks, but also as a rite of passage into adulthood, through steady, intentional creation.