Inspired by Creativity!

But I’m not an artist! Many of us don’t think of ourselves as creative because we aren’t writers, sculptors, or painters. While creativity is certainly the genesis of artistic endeavors, creative expression is not limited to the arts. In his book Human Motivation, Robert E. Franken defines creativity as “the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others.”

Other definitions include producing original ideas or bringing something new into existence and transcending traditional ideas, rules, patterns, and relationships to form new ones. So where does creative inspiration originate? What kind of environments support creative endeavors? And how can we nurture our innate creativity?

In her book The Creating Brain: The Neuroscience of Genius, Nancy C. Andreasen, MD, PhD, examines the neurobiology of the creative process and differentiates creativity from intelligence. A complex set of environmental factors, she notes, including mentoring and nontraditional education, contributes to creative expression.

A brain imaging study conducted by Drexel University’s Creativity Research Lab found that the nature of the creative task determines which hemisphere of the brain is used: the right brain hemisphere is usually considered the “creative” region of the brain; however, left hemisphere experience and tasks contribute to a creative effort.

A recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry explores the connection between natural environments and creativity and attention span. Study results indicate that “viewing natural environments stimulates curiosity and fosters flexibility and imagination.” Environments that are considered “highly natural” can improve the “uniqueness and diversity” of creative ideas and expression.

Additional research supports the effect of the natural world on the creative process. Nature’s meditative-like ability to reduce stress and improve focus and attention span creates space for new ideas and flexible, innovative thinking.

The Creativity and Aging Study found that access to professionally led cultural programming has a profound effect not only on creativity but also on aging well. Arts education not only inspires creativity but also improves cognition, forges social connections, and prevents disease.

Retirement living options that offer access to a wide variety of amenities, classes, enrichment activities, language learning, lectures, theater, music and other creative pursuits enhance residents’ creative potential and wellbeing.

An article in the Journal of Aging Studies explains that engaging in creative activities gives us a sense of purpose, greater self-confidence, and more opportunities for personal growth. Flexing our creative muscles offers us an opportunity to stay sharp and find greater joy in living, particularly as we age.

Creative expression also allows us to process our emotions in healthy ways, providing us with catharsis and reflection. Yet another benefit is that the flexible thought processes needed to create carry over into other aspects of life, helping us solve problems and find greater contentment in daily living.

Two studies published in the National Library of Medicine recognize the long-held understanding that being happy allows us to be more creative and further state the more recent realization that creating makes us happy. This “bidirectional” relationship between creativity and wellbeing holds particular significance for older adults who can benefit measurably from living in a community in which creativity is valued and supported.

An article published by the National Institute on Aging explores research findings showing that participation in the arts promotes healthy aging. Lead researchers note that engaging in the arts can improve cognitive function, memory, self-esteem, and feelings of overall wellbeing. The article cites the work of a community choir, The Community of Voices in San Francisco, in reducing feelings of loneliness and increasing interest in life after six months of participation.

Another program called the Memory Ensemble is specifically designed for older adults suffering from dementia. It has been found to elevate mood, decrease anxiety, and foster a sense of “achievement, empowerment, and self-discovery” for participants.

An article on cognitive aging in the journal Health Psychology Review makes the argument that creativity is an integral part of preserving cognitive skills, noting that creative engagement can have a protective effect on retention of cognitive skills in the elderly. A growing body of research confirms the connections between overall health and wellbeing and a lower incidence of cognitive decline and the role creative expression plays in fostering feelings of wellbeing.

Writing in the publication Psychology Today, Dr. Susan Kraus Whitbourne explains that a flexible mindset is another component to keeping the brain healthy as we age. These qualities of general openness and willingness to adapt to change are essential parts of creativity, she explains. Striving for new experiences, being willing to take on challenges, and seeing situations in different ways are aspects of creative thinking that help us adjust to age-related transitions.

Creative practice also helps us age well by allowing us to experience a greater sense of joy and contentment in daily life. Here are some traditional ways of exploring creative expression:

• Dancing; creative movement
• Taking and editing photographs
• Singing or writing songs; playing a musical instrument
• Exploring the visual arts through painting, pastels, charcoal, or coloring books
• Needlework, such as quilting, knitting, crewel, or crochet
• Woodworking, carving
• Journaling, poetry, or other types of writing
• Paper crafts, such as card making or scrapbooking

An article in the Journal of Aging Studies entitled “Successful Aging and Creativity in Later Life” explains that a sense of purpose, competence, and personal growth flow from the creative process. Older adults who engage in creative activities are using their intellect and their imagination, and are able to transfer those flexible thinking skills to problem-solving and other ways to make their everyday lives more meaningful and content.

Another reason creativity can bring joy to seniors is that the act of creating can itself be therapeutic. Creating invites us to fully engage, requiring an intensity of focus that lets us “lose ourselves” in the creative moment in a process psychologists call “flow.” Prof. Emeritus Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi of the University of Chicago originated flow theory, referring to flow as a state of being in which people become completely immersed in the joy of their work or activity.

Creative expression also allows for the opportunity to experience and share our emotions in positive ways. Writing in a journal or drafting a poem, for example, can help us process and reflect on feelings and experiences. But this type of healthy catharsis is not limited to writing: the visual arts and music as well as theater and dance also provide therapeutic outlets for feelings.

The notion of a great novelist writing in complete isolation has been refuted by many researchers. Of course, a writer is usually alone while writing, but the creative process is one of connection to friends, colleagues, and ideas. Similarly, creative expression does not take place in a vacuum; we are shaped by the friends in our quilting group, the other members of our watercolors class, or fellow actors in our theater group.

The products of creativity and the process that brings them into being are meant to be shared, forging social bonds that further enhance our ability to create and experience the joy and sense of purpose that creating brings. In short, the creative process furthers the social interaction that is essential to wellbeing for older adults.

The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reports that creativity is one of the keys to extending quality of life and overcoming stereotypes of aging. Specifically, research indicates that “creative actions” lead to increases in cognitive capacity, self-confidence, positive views on aging, and potential for intergenerational relationships.

The Creativity and Aging Study, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, found that engagement in the arts promotes health and prevents disease among seniors. But accessing the arts and opportunities to create are essential if older adults are to benefit from creative immersion. Living in a community of the highest standards for health care, amenities, dining, and overall wellbeing frees residents to explore their untapped creative potential.

Come visit Plymouth Harbor and learn more about this extraordinary community where nurturing residents’ creativity is just one facet of our continuum of care. Call 941-365-2600 to schedule your private tour and discover why life truly is better on Sarasota Bay!