Analysis versus Creativity: My Life

joelbear

I have spent my entire working life in business analysis, analyzing work in order to determine the best way to do it. This flows over into the way I approach the rest of my life. I analyze. I analyze friendships and the ending of friendships. I analyze life. I analyze everything. I am tired of analyzing.

I am determined to changing my mind's occupation with analysis to creativity. Thus the pottery class and going back to reading a lot of science fiction.

I think, for me, creativity will be more rewarding.

Cygnus

Good for you, Joelie. I used to be creative musically, before my injuries. Often times creativity is a lot more satisfying than mere analysis, no?

proplog2

It is not either - or. Creativity involves analysis. You need an idea generator and an idea selector to be creative.

In the field of psychology they test people on "fluency". Fluency is coming up with a hundred uses for a brick (paperweight, bug killer, weapon, etc.) in 5 minutes. Deciding what is most useful involves - analysis and decision.

You need both.

jgnat

I know right-brain left-brain theory is out of vogue, but it helped me understand me better than anything. Joelbear, the struggle between analysis and creativity has dogged me my entire life. Not being dominant for either, I am both. That means my creative side and my analytical side have struggled for dominance. I take a lot longer to make a decision than most people. Many don't notice, as I sometimes come to a swift conclusion. What they don't know is that I have spent many idle moments working out the problem months or years ago.

I think I have found a happy balance finally. Either side (Analysis/Creativity) dominates when called upon. I stopped doodling on the sides of my spreadsheets, and don't bother overanalysing the composition of my paintings.

I think it is a great idea that you spend some time DOING THINGS, externalizing your experience instead of internalizing it.

http://library.thinkquest.org/C0110299/brain/dominance.php?page=dominance0

John Doe

As another pointed out, they're not mutually exclusive. I'm double majoring with a BA in Math and English, and they're much more related than many folks realize. Still, I think I know what you're saying. You're wanting to focus some energy on an endeavor that does not have to follow a set path or reach a predetermined outcome, no?