#152. The Blueprint To Being A Creative Genius - Rich Kirkpatrick | Independent Thinking Podcast

Discover More: The Science of Creativity

Discover more is a podcast for independent thinkers. Today's conversation will explain the neuroscience of creativity. Rich Kirkpatrick is a creativity expert, published author, and musician. Expect to learn about the nature of creativity, the three stages of the creative process by science.

In the Elevator With Renaldo: On Creativity

Author: Creativity is a way to explain what humans do when we thrive. He says we are wired like no other animal on the planet to be creative. He views art as an additional portal to view life through or towards the greater unknown.

Understanding Creativity and Meaning Making

Seth Godin says we don't have a profit shortage problem, we have a meaning making shortage problem. He sees parallels and similar threats between creativity and meaning making. Innovation is important, but so is art. Being able to bridge those things is really our answer.

On Creativity and Its Meaning

In a way, life is inherently meaningless, but I view that as a very empowering way. It's not about creating meaning, but can you derive or interpret meanings. As you get older, your dreams shrink, you evolve, you adapt. creativity is a process and not an outcome.

What Makes a Creative Person?

Your book dispels the myth that creativity is not an outcome, it's actually the process. Unlike a lot of processes, the creative process is not a straight line. It implies that there's room for growth and room for mistakes.

What Are Convergent and Divergent Thinkings?

With creative process, you have to dance between conversion thinking and divergent thinking. Where you open your mind to a certain degree to allow things in, but intentionally not to a point where everything comes in. I see some parallels where I started the podcast because I used to grapple with this loneliness.

The Divergent Thinkings of Creators

Research shows 80% are convergent thinkers by preference, and 20% are divergent thinkers. To thrive in creativity, someone has to be willing to know that to thrive. In the last four years since he started this podcast, his divergent thinking ability has increased.

On Creativity and Its Process

LZ: There is a huge messaging of hope, where once again, back to nature and nurture. The question now is, am I going to be in this moment? And that's really a biggest challenge, I think, for me. We sometimes look for these big events, these giant leaps, as opposed to taking steps.

The 3 Stages of Creativity

According to your book, the dream is the idea generation, the sandbox is where the limitations are found, and then the story is where you get it ready to deliver it to the world. What is the relationship between creativity and the nonlinearity of life?

The Relationship Between Original Thoughts and Creativity

You alluded to original thoughts and creativity earlier. From your personal and or research, what do you think is a relationship between original thought and creativity, if any?

Why Does Love Have to Be Unconditional?

"I hate this western fixations over fixations on unconditional love. Love is love because love is a greater extent of ourselves and that's very effortful " "As long as there's love in place, doesn't have to be conditional or conditional " Love is about agency. It's about choices.

Exploring Limits and Conditions in Life

And also, I do want to go into limitations and conditions. Where society, especially western culture, we have this once again illusion that absolute freedom is what we want. I think discipline and constraint, freedom is, and I know that I thrive with certain conditions.

Exploring Your Inner World: More Inquiry Than Creativity

Author: My intuition is something I should listen to, what my body tells me. In creativity, the idea that to create, therefore I am, is that you're basically being grounded in the person you are. Feel free to take where you see fit.

Men Think Their Imagination Is Logical

Men's instinctive move is to problem solve, offer solutions, personality traits. But in a relational, emotional capacity, the most logical thing to do is to do what's most optimal. Choice will definitely be a key word for our episode.

Embracing the Awkward

It's okay to be emotional, mystical, imaginative, just as much it is to be rational, practical, utilitarian. We live in a tension of the dark side we have and the light side that we have. To know that we are saints and sinners, and to know that in that framework, there's room for growth.

Routine drives productivity, novelty drives creativity

Routine creates productivity, but novelty inspires. Where do you see that balance? Do you have any thoughts in terms of routine drives productivity and novelty drives inspirations and creativity?

No Sunk Costs in the Creativity Process

YG: Nothing is wasted in the creative process. The more ideas you have, it's exponential. The best books aren't done with just one person. They're done with editors and people who give you feedback. Any thoughts on sunk costs?

How to Live: Creativity Is a Process

I love that creativity is a process, because being human is also a process. Utility has beauty in it, right? And even like businesses creating a business, I know people would think I'm crazy for connecting businesses and art. Are you willing to leave enough openness?

To Break the Norms: Defeating the Internal Enemy

To transcend rules, you must know the rules first. To redefine beauty, you have to know what beauty is. And we must defeat our internal enemy. Replace the desire of should and replace the perceived goalposts with whatever we see it as.

How to Write a Book

RK: I really love the gracious theme that your book had, but also the idea that it is a process and there's room to dance. For anyone that's inspired, they want to discover more, create more, be more creative. Hope to see you again in the next week's train up.