Why Thought is the Death Of the Creative

Whether it be at school or in the workplace, thinking is encouraged throughout our lives. We think about the big things such as what kind of lifestyle we want to live or the smaller stuff like what do we want for lunch. But does thinking have a dark side? Could thought be inhibiting your creativity in ways you don’t expect?

On a recent episode of the Communicator podcast, Jason Malouin talks in-depth about this topic as the guest of the podcast. His process for getting more from his clients and why thinking creates doubt and problems that inhibit your creativity and kill the artistic process. Along with being the interviewer and host of the Communicator podcast, Jason Malouin is a sought-after personal portrait photographer who had previously been shooting commercial and advertising projects for many years. Before that, he toured the United States as an actor and lighting guy and was a nature guide for eight years as well.

After years of all those experiences, Jason has found thinking to be the thing that holds his artistic process back the most. So here three quick tips to help you shut off your brain so you can create great art without your head getting in the way.

You Have Everything You Need to do Whatever You Want

So many times in life and art we doubt ourselves. We believe we’re not good enough or don’t have the education and skills required to do well in our art form. But art isn’t about having the most information or knowledge. It's about finding the creativity behind what you’re doing and expressing it to the best of your ability. Everyone has that gift already. Every human being is born with the ability to create artistically, have faith in your potential and tools you already possess.

Less is More

While lots of options often feel like a good thing in life, it can be detrimental to art. Art is about specificity, and when they’re lots of roads to take, you tend to get paralyzed and not go down any path at all. So whenever possible, cut down on the artistic choices you have in your art, such as using fewer colours, having less clothing changes etc. Restrictions can be a magical thing if you’re willing to pour more into fewer options.

You Need to be OK in Your Head

The famous writer Blaise Pascal once said, “All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” This idea is uniquely right for artists as they play in the ethereal world of the imagination and have to trust what comes out of them. If not, their artistic process will be stunted and ultimately not very good. Find time to sit alone and get lost in your thoughts. Let whatever comes up, ethical, or evil be what it is and let it be. Sometimes are neuroses are our best teachers and inspire greater things then we could have imagined. Take the time.