CREATIVITY & MEDITATION BY LOGAN ROMAINE

We need to pay attention in order to come up with creative ideas -- to the world around us but more importantly, to our own thoughts and emotions.

When stressed or frustrated, the mind feels smaller and restricted. We become distracted by all of the tasks we have yet to complete or the uncomfortable conversations we are going to have to have. What we don’t think about is why we feel the way that we do.

Thinking about your feelings is no new concept to mankind. However, the introduction of technology into our lives has only made it more difficult. Have you ever heard someone older tell you that our generation is fucked because we are constantly distracted? I refused to believe it until I started meditating. Not only does technology increase our exposure to stimuli but there are many more ways for people to distract themselves from what is going on in their own lives. Instead of taking 10 minutes to think about why we feel certain emotions, we tend to open up Instagram and scroll for hours. Some may argue that this helps them take a break from their stressors but in turn, it only compounds the problem.

Scrolling on Instagram doesn't make the stressors go away and neither does mediation. Meditation just allows for the processing of thoughts and emotions to prevent these emotions from consuming the entire brain -- in-turn opening up space in your mind for the free flow of creative ideas.

Try meditating 10 minutes a day for a week straight. Apps like "Headspace” are a great way to enter the world of meditation via guided exercises.  Evaluate the results on your psyche and adapt meditation duration and frequency accordingly. It works for me. It can work for you too.