On Wednesday I’ll interview Dr. Carrie Barron about creativity: why it’s so crucial, how to bring more of it into our lives, the benefits of it…as well, of course, as how to employ creativity as you write your book.
As a preview, I thought I’d ask Dr. Barron a few questions about creativity:
Lisa: Carrie, you’ve mentioned to me that you’ve seen creativity transform people’s lives. Can you tell me how you began to connect the dots with your patients?
Dr. Carrie Barron: Sure. Over the years, I have treated many people who suffer from depression or anxiety. I learned that traditional treatments, psychotherapy, cognitive therapy and medication are not very effective for certain people. For some, the only thing that works is to be involved in a creative process.
Lisa: What kinds of things did they do that helped them? Was it a specific creative project–like a book or painting–or was it creativity in general?
Dr. Carrie Barron: Different things help different people. My clients and I work together to try to uncover their sequestered desires and capacities. Each person is unique. So for one it may be writing, for another, design. The most important part of our work is to create the mental freedom and habits that allow the true self, the creative self, to emerge.
Lisa: Why are you so excited about creativity? Why do you want everyone to know about creativity?
How do I get started! Some form of creative expression enhances well-being for most people, even if they have never labeled themselves talented or artistic. It allows the soul to emerge, it can foster deeper understanding of the self, it can be calming or stimulating. Creativity can take many forms: cooking, whittling, gardening, designing a home, painting a wall.
There is so much despair in our society. Depression and anxiety are rampant and, though twice as many antidepressants are prescribed than a decade ago, people are still suffering, searching, feeling empty. Creative acts provide meaning, connect to the soul, help us know our true selves, and allow us to move through the day in an elevated way.
Lisa: From many of the stories I’ve read in your manuscript, it seems that creativity provides many people a path through and out of that despair. Perhaps our culture is suffering largely from creativity dampening! Write your book and heal your life–creativity can turn things around.
Carrie, what can people expect to get out of tomorrow’s free teleseminar?
Dr. Carrie Barron: To come away with ways to develop, honor and maintain a creative self–tips and insights to free you up and get started. Also, I hope that people will reach out to others and keep the conversation going because connecting to others can powerfully impact our creativity.
Join us tomorrow and ask your questions on the call. Here are some more burning creativity issues that Dr. Barron will cover:
- Three Ways to Get Into a Creative State
- Tips to Remedy Writers Block
- How can I write when I have so many time constraints?
- How can I choose a place to be creative (and is that important)?
- How can other forms of creative exploration help my writing?
- Why is routine so important and how can I foster it?
- How can I make myself finish things?
Register here. And feel free to ask any questions of Dr. Barron or me as a comment to this blog post, as well.
