Constraints improve creativity Often, we feel like our impulses must be totally free in order to reach our best result. The truth is that clear parameters make tasks manageable and direct the chaos of our creative impulses toward meaningful purpose. Not long ago I needed a book description for Amazon and I was thinking, “this …
If you’re playing Tetris like it’s Mario, you will never achieve a high score. Please excuse my dated reference because the point is important. They’re very different games and you need to understand the mechanics and rules of a game to play it well. Just like the computer programs determine a game’s mechanics, your mind …
Mantras are powerful, self-affirming statements that help recenter your focus and shake off negative thoughts. They don’t even need to be rational. They just need to make you feel good. It’s not for anyone else. Repeat them and they won’t feel silly. Observe your recurrent negative thoughts, then think of a positive mantra that subverts them. …
