This article is a goodie about motivation. What makes us commit to work and keep going? It references Daniel Pink, uber-paradigm shifter, who examines the inner reward systems we rely on for healthy functioning. No more carrot and stick. He lists Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose as the three core drives to guide people in the work current work force (and creative people, too. Haven't artists done this all along?) With the boom of an entrepreneur work force with people having multiple jobs in a lifetime, reinventing themselves to fit into different situations, people are being forced to be more creative and think like artists always have. Interesting shift. In education, many of the practices we've used in art have been picked up by other subjects. This makes sense in the context of this book. Pink is an often referred to author in educational settings.
As I feel myself fall into a little mental and physical slump (lowering prednisone does that, too) I am also interested in examining ways of working around it. If the slump is comprised of physical and emotional feelings, there must be a way to use my brain to change them. Easy in theory, exhausting in practice. It's long been thought that creative types are more emotionally labile. That artists are depressive types. Some are, some are not. This article is a goody about an idea that being a creative type actually creates more depressive states, not the other way around. That excessive rumination is part of the creative process (and evolution, too.) Interesting read!
Either way, as an artist, human, and RA sufferer, I am feeling the punch of a low mood and increased pain levels today, again. Sadly, reading about the "whys" don't necessarily help make it better. At least I am trying! I need kids, clay, and classroom laughter today, and am happy that my hours will be spent helping kids enjoy their own time making things that matter to them. Yesterday after teaching the kids one point perspective drawing, one of my more vocal and sincere kids called out "I will never look at anything the same way again!" You can't beat that kind of feedback, can you?
What will you make today? Feel good everybody!