CHAPTER 6
Four Ways to Spark Creativity When You’re Feeling Stressed
by Susan Peppercorn and Maren Gube
The human brain comes equipped with powerful response mechanisms to protect us during uncertain times. In disruptive or unpredictable situations, the brain tries to interpret incoming stimuli and form a plan of action if the news is bad. When precarious circumstances are prolonged and combined with anxiety and fear, the brain’s biological response is to hide rather than explore. From an evolutionary point of view, survival ends up taking precedence over creativity, as the stress hormones that ready us for battle also interrupt the networks involved in creativity.
The cognitive load from this subconscious scanning and scenario-building is one ...
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