The Creativity Conundrum
Often in my creativity workshops, I am asked a rather perplexing question: “Is creativity something I can learn, or is it a quality that’s simply present in my gene pool?” Apart from sharing Ken Robinson’s famous TED talks about the importance of cultivating creativity, I also invite participants to re-examine their definition of this elusive concept. To me, creativity is as much about attitude as it is about outcome.
The mind-set with which we choose to approach problems and the decisions we make to arrive at solutions are just as crucial as the final product. Often, in our personal transformation journeys, we reflect on our thoughts, beliefs, strategies, and ideas, appreciating their value, and yet somehow, the changes don’t stick. Why? Because we are creatures of habit, doing the same things we’ve always done, reacting in the same ways we’ve always reacted. Our habitual self has a firm grip on us.
The surest way to ensure that change sets in deeply is through experience – an embodied experience. Repeated physical, cellular experiences create new neurological pathways in the brain, allowing us to truly live out the new attitudes and behaviors we wish to adopt. And this is where the power of improvisation comes into play.
Improvisation: The Gateway to Creativity
I have discovered over the years that improvisation is a spot-on practice that can allow one to exercise the creativity muscle. Improvisation is a style of theater where actors create unscripted scenarios based on spontaneous suggestions. Do improvisers rehearse? Absolutely, and very hard. For improvisation is not only about expressing ourselves but also about connecting with others in a more immediate way.
When we are improvising, we don’t aim to be witty or recklessly do whatever we want in the name of spontaneity. On the contrary, we are introduced to a specific set of practices which, when mastered through repetition, teach us how to relax into a situation, look at the resources around us, and let go of our controlling ways. This becomes the key to discovering new alternatives of being in a situation.
Improvising requires us to be more agreeable than argumentative, more helpful than competitive, and more present than presumptuous. It gives us a chance to embody and embrace the fear of failure, and make choices from a space of confidence, flexibility, and positivity. Improvisation allows us to understand and appreciate that creativity is a disciplined process that requires skill, knowledge, and control, along with loads of imagination and inspiration.
The Improviser’s Mindset
We can all be creative, as long as we stop thinking about it and start doing it. And improvisation can make us more mindful of where we are going. Learning how to improvise can help us change in a lasting way and unleash our creative genius in every sphere of our lives.
The improviser’s mindset is all about being present, responsive, and adaptable. It’s about letting go of the need to control and embracing the unexpected. When we improvise, we are forced to let go of our preconceived notions and preconceptions, and instead, we must rely on our instincts and the resources available to us in the moment.
Improvisation teaches us to be comfortable with uncertainty and to embrace the unknown. It encourages us to take risks and to try new things, without the fear of failure. And it helps us to develop a sense of trust – trust in ourselves, trust in our partners, and trust in the process.
The Practical Benefits of Improvisation
But the benefits of improvisation extend far beyond the realm of the stage. In fact, the skills and mindset developed through improvisation can be applied to a wide range of personal and professional pursuits.
For example, in the workplace, the ability to think on one’s feet and respond quickly to changing circumstances can be invaluable. Improvisation can help teams and individuals to be more agile, adaptable, and innovative in their problem-solving approaches. It can also improve communication and collaboration, as individuals learn to listen more attentively, build on each other’s ideas, and work together to create something new.
In our personal lives, improvisation can help us to be more confident, spontaneous, and resilient. It can teach us to let go of our need for control and to embrace the unpredictable nature of life. And it can help us to develop a greater sense of empathy and understanding, as we learn to see the world from different perspectives.
Improvisation in Action
One of the most powerful examples of improvisation in action is the popular television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” In this long-running improv comedy series, a team of performers is given a series of prompts and challenges, and they must create hilarious, entirely unscripted scenes on the spot.
The level of creativity and spontaneity displayed by the performers on “Whose Line” is truly remarkable. They are able to take a simple suggestion, such as “a cat in a grocery store,” and turn it into a side-splitting, fully-realized scene, complete with characters, plot, and punchlines. And they do it all without a script, relying solely on their quick wit, their ability to listen and respond, and their willingness to take risks.
The Musical Theater Center, a place dedicated to the art of performance, understands the power of improvisation. In our classes and workshops, we emphasize the importance of developing the improviser’s mindset, not just for the stage, but for life. We believe that the skills and experiences gained through improvisation can unlock new levels of creativity, confidence, and flexibility in our students, empowering them to thrive both on and off the stage.
Improvisation as a Life Skill
Ultimately, the lessons of improvisation are not just for performers, but for anyone who wants to unlock their creative potential and become more adaptable in the face of life’s challenges. Whether you’re a business executive, a stay-at-home parent, or a student exploring your passions, the principles of improvisation can be applied to a wide range of personal and professional pursuits.
Through improvisation, we learn to embrace uncertainty, to let go of our need for control, and to trust in our own abilities and the resources around us. We develop a greater sense of empathy and understanding, as we learn to see the world from different perspectives. And we cultivate a mindset of positivity, flexibility, and resilience, which can serve us well in any situation.
So if you’re looking to unlock your creative potential, to become more adaptable and responsive to the demands of modern life, I encourage you to explore the power of improvisation. It may just be the key to unlocking a whole new world of possibility.
