What is the Creativity Index and how does it relate to the Burnout Index

"We don't find ourselves, we create ourselves." George Bernard Shaw

The Creativity Index is a measure of how each country stacks up in the world with regards to its creative growth. It combines individually-ranked countries based on creativity, technology, talent, and tolerance into an overall score. Back in 2015 Australia was first and the USA ranked second. China climbed to the ranks of being first in 2019, and after the effects of the pandemic, who knows who will take over. While countries battle for their status on the charts, each of us is going through his or her own reckoning and evaluation.

We're in the midst of a critical time of re-assessment, of paying close attention to what's important and figuring out ways of bringing back balance, of focusing on purpose-oriented growth, rather than task-oriented living.

You know that you as an individual are high on the creativity index if you're:

a) finding joy in life,

b) if you're productive,

c) if you're able to think outside the box, and

d) aren't judgmental towards those around you.

When those elements aren't evident - our burnout index increases. The two - are in direct reverse correlation. You might be finding yourself procrastinating more, getting resentful and irritated with those around you, lacking in energy, unable to find solutions to every day problems, to see the larger picture. Yes, that means your burnout index is growing, and the way to stave it off is to increase your creativity index.

The creativity index is very dear to my heart as an artist. I believe when we're in flow, we can find joy in life. I get into flow often and have been tracking how that happens to me and my hundreds of students for a number of years.

The key result I've discovered is that one doesn't have to be an artist in order to be in flow. It's attainable for anyone. I wanted to share a strategy I've developed of getting into flow. I shared it with quite a few people in varied fields and hands down they find it works no matter what task is at hand. Try it and report back on what happens!

Here're the key steps in achieving flow in any situation:

1. Be present - try a short meditation - feel your body in the space you're in.
2. Pay close attention to your surroundings, notice minute details - dissolve into them.
3. Allow yourself to play, to explore different materials and strategies.
4. Release the end result - don't focus on what you aim to achieve, enjoy the process.

Inevitably you get into flow if you follow these in order. Try them out and see for yourself!

Let me know how it goes,

Warmly,

Diana reporting after a week of trials in Venice and Rome :)