creativity

The bipolar super power

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Before I start this post I would like to emphasize the importance of remaining on bipolar medication and seeking help when you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope with life. This post is not about trying to romanticize bipolar disorder but rather about encouraging those suffering from bipolar to not only see the bad but also to embrace the positive.

I know there are many negatives associated with bipolar disorder, but little attention is paid to the ‘super power’ that comes with bipolar.

First off, here’s a list of well-known bipolar sufferers;-

  • Demi Lovato
  • Carrie Fisher
  • Catherine Zeta-Jones
  • Claude Van Damme
  • Russell Brand
  • Mel Gibson
  • Marilyn Monroe
  • Amy Winehouse
  • Vivien Leigh (|Gone with the Wind)
  • Frank Sinatra
  • Edgar Allan Poe (Writer)
  • Richard Dreyfuss
  • Axl Rose
  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Mike Tyson
  • Virginia Wolf
  • Ernst Hemmingway
  • Vincent van Gogh
  • Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Any many, many more

What is interesting is that the names on the list are artistes who have been able to tap into a deep source of creativity and experience.

I honestly believe that with the highs and lows of bipolar comes a profound understanding of emotions and the effect they have on lives. Accompanying this is the ability to acknowledge these emotions and inhabit the very soul of them.van-gogh-698329__340

Having read many of the bipolar blogs on WordPress (and other sources), I am astounded at the power with which bipolar writers portray emotions and feelings. There seems to be an intense connection between the writer, the feeling and concept.  Certainly some of the greatest creators of our times are ‘credited’ with having intense mood swings vacillating between heights and depths.  How could this not acquaint them with the entire spectrum of human moods?

If you have been diagnosed with bipolar I pretty sure that you have become familiar with ;-

  • Gut wrenching sadness
  • Feelings of loathing and hate
  • Extreme inexplicable joy
  • Crazy thoughts
  • Wildness
  • Depths of despair
  • Profound anxiety
  • Absolute desperation
  • Boundless energy
  • Pangs of regret
  • Deep darkness
  • Brilliant light
  • Coldness and searing heat
  • Bursts of creative genius
  • Racing and then barely moving
  • Embracing and discarding
  • Winning and losing
  • Crashing and flying

All the emotions of a life time will have found their way into your journey and stayed with you for differing lengths of time. You know them, you recognise, you feel them over and over and over again.

This is your super power.

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It enables work to be borne out of a spherical place with intense raw emotion. It is able to unite souls and feelings and words. It is able to explore places that ‘bipolar-less’ people can’t. It is able to draw solutions from bare lifelessness . It is able to feel deeply and all consumingly. It is able to connect every fibre of the mortal man.

It is unique to the bipolar world and its yours if you own it and claim it.

Of course there will be many times where these emotions disable you and hold you captive, but in between the bad spaces there is an opportunity to create something heart-felt and compelling.

Yes, stigmas still abound around mental illness, but I think its time that bipolar gets the creative credit it deserves.

For me, this sums it all up; –

Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer’s day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul

Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free

They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they’ll listen now

Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent’s eyes of china blue

Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist’s loving hand

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free

They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they’ll listen now

For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when no hope was left in sight
On that starry, starry night

You took your life, as lovers often do
But I could’ve told you Vincent
This world was never meant for
One as beautiful as you

Starry, starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frame-less heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can’t forget

Like the strangers that you’ve met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow

Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free

They would not listen, they’re not listening still
Perhaps they never will

 

 

 

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No artist tolerates reality

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‘Calling Sweden. You Will Soon Be Connected to a Random Swede, Somewhere in Sweden

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Today I woke up with a wonderful feeling of calm and warmth towards the world. I can see the blue sky through my window, and the warm embrace from my duvet. I am relaxed and happy. With no specific plans, I put on an audiobook, drink some water and try to plan my day. But before doing anything, I want to share an article by the New York Times. It describes how a tourist agency has opened their telephone lines in a very creative way. I have always liked Sweden. They are forward-thinking and open to new ideas. And they are a social bunch, happy to connect with others. This article is a brilliant example of how we easily can connect with people. I would love something similar approaches to connect with others: Having an open telephone line where you get connected to a random person all over the world, just to talk and learn something new.

By DANIEL VICTORAPRIL 8, 2016

Tourists and a copy of a Viking ship in Stockholm. Sven Nackstrand/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images 

Margareta Marza, a 28-year-old marketer in Stockholm, was reading a book on Thursday evening when she received my call.

Until she told me, I had no idea who she was. And she didn’t know who I was — or which number, country or time zone I was calling from. But that was the fun part.

To gin up interest in the country, a Swedish tourism agency created the Swedish Number, 46-771-793-336, a single phone line that connects international callers to randomly selected Swedish volunteers to chat about whatever is on their minds.

When I called the number and was connected to Ms. Marza, she said she had been driven to participate out of curiosity and for the chance to have pleasant, serendipitous chats.

“It’s amazing how you are in New York and I am here,” she said. “It makes the world seem smaller.”

The Swedish Number’s website invites callers to “talk about anything you want.” After I dialed the number (callers from the United States should dial 011 first; international rates apply), an automated voice responded: “Calling Sweden. You will soon be connected to a random Swede, somewhere in Sweden.”

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In one case, that was Arvid HedenGynna, 28, a biology student in Uppsala. He chatted with a man in Texas who explained that no, not everyone in the state wore a cowboy hat.

Michael Kazarnowicz, 38, who works at a communications agency in Stockholm, said he had fielded calls from a Greek who claimed to be bankrupt and in need of money, a birthday girl in Kazakhstan and a chef in Siberia.

By letting everyday Swedes communicate directly with foreigners, tourism officials hope to present a more authentic picture of the country than one conjured up by a marketing agency, said Magnus Ling, the secretary general and chief executive of the Swedish Tourist Association. As of Thursday evening, about 3,000 Swedes, many of whom had heard about the number through the local news media, had downloaded a mobile app that would put them on a list to talk with strangers for the next two months.

Yes, Mr. Ling acknowledged, the chats could go off the rails. But he had little fear of lewd, meanspirited or even dangerous correspondence — he believes that people have good intentions, he said. And he believes the Swedish people will make good ambassadors for the country.

“It’s no worse than when we travel abroad and two people meet and talk about Sweden,” he said.

Sweden is no stranger to relying on its people to tell its story. The country has a Twitter account, @Sweden, and it is staffed by a different resident each week, who is given full freedom to write Twitter posts about virtually whatever he or she likes on behalf of the nation of about 9.5 million people.

About 7,500 calls had been placed to the Swedish Number as of Thursday afternoon, with the most coming from Turkey and the United States. Mr. Ling said several of the people he had spoken to from the United States were especially curious to get his take on the presidential race (typical Americans, making it all about us). Other Swedes I spoke to were eager to battle stereotypes (no, they aren’t all blond).

Hugo Gefors, a 21-year-old mechanical engineering student in Kalmar, said his call from the Swedish Number had interrupted his studying for a test on Friday, but he had been looking forward to the distraction. After 10 minutes of friendly chatter, including discussion of meatballs — “They are generally not made like the ones you eat at Ikea,” he said — it was time to return to his studies.

“Thank you for calling Sweden,” he said before hanging up.

More:

Integrating a dissociative world

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The meaning of art

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I wish all my readers a calm, good sunday. I am including some pictures I have collected on pinterest, that stimulates me. We need art to activate parts of our brain capable of dreaming and look at the world with wonder. Maybe some of the pictures can do the same for you, as it does for me.

   
    
    
    
   

The meaning of art

 

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Mirrorgirl: The mediatior and integrator

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What follows, is a description of my personality type. I was a bit surprised at how correct it was, how can a test know about my love for language, the creativity, the way of living my life? Off course, we often just see what fits, but I have tried to search for things that don`t fit, and have not been successful yet.

The only thing I would like to add, is that I rather use the word “integrator” than “mediator” as this reflects the way I work with trauma more accurately.

If you want to take the test yourself, you can do it by following this link

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INFP PERSONALITY (“THE MEDIATOR”)

INFP personalities are true idealists, always looking for the hint of good in even the worst of people and events, searching for ways to make things better. While they may be perceived as calm, reserved, or even shy, INFPs have an inner flame and passion that can truly shine. Comprising just 4% of the population, the risk of feeling misunderstood is unfortunately high for the INFP personality type – but when they find like-minded people to spend their time with, the harmony they feel will be a fountain of joy and inspiration.

INFP personalityBeing a part of the Diplomat (NF) personality group, INFPs are guided by their principles, rather than by logic (Analysts), excitement (Explorers), or practicality (Sentinels). When deciding how to move forward, they will look to honor, beauty, morality and virtue – INFPs are led by the purity of their intent, not rewards and punishments. People who share the INFP personality type are proud of this quality, and rightly so, but not everyone understands the drive behind these feelings, and it can lead to isolation.

All that is gold does not glitter; not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither; deep roots are not reached by the frost.

J. R. R. Tolkien

We Know What We Are, but Know Not What We May Be

At their best, these qualities enable INFPs to communicate deeply with others, easily speaking in metaphors and parables, and understanding and creating symbols to share their ideas. The strength of this intuitive communication style lends itself well to creative works, and it comes as no surprise that many famous INFPs are poets, writers and actors. Understanding themselves and their place in the world is important to INFPs, and they explore these ideas by projecting themselves into their work.

INFPs have a talent for self-expression, revealing their beauty and their secrets through metaphors and fictional characters.

INFPs’ ability with language doesn’t stop with their native tongue, either – as with most people who share the Diplomat personality types, they are considered gifted when it comes to learning a second (or third!) language. Their gift for communication also lends itself well to INFPs’ desire for harmony, a recurring theme with Diplomats, and helps them to move forward as they find their calling.

Listen to Many People, but Talk to Few

Unlike their Extraverted cousins though, INFPs will focus their attention on just a few people, a single worthy cause – spread too thinly, they’ll run out of energy, and even become dejected and overwhelmed by all the bad in the world that they can’t fix. This is a sad sight for INFPs’ friends, who will come to depend on their rosy outlook.

If they are not careful, INFPs can lose themselves in their quest for good and neglect the day-to-day upkeep that life demands. INFPs often drift into deep thought, enjoying contemplating the hypothetical and the philosophical more than any other personality type. Left unchecked, INFPs may start to lose touch, withdrawing into “hermit mode”, and it can take a great deal of energy from their friends or partner to bring them back to the real world.

Luckily, like the flowers in spring, INFP’s affection, creativity, altruism and idealism will always come back, rewarding them and those they love perhaps not with logic and utility, but with a world view that inspires compassion, kindness and beauty wherever they go.

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Best 20 TED-talks

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I love being inspired, and therefore TED is my drug of choice when I need inspiration. I have not seen all the talks on this list, but I certainly will.

What makes this list so incredible is the fact that it spans so many areas of interest, from education to simOnhappiness, statistics to creativity, tech demos to illusions. We love that this list revels in the wonders of the human brain, as well as in the incredible creatures of the deep sea, and far beyond.

Here comes the list:

  1. Sir Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity (2006): 23,510,221 views
  2. Jill Bolte Taylor‘s stroke of insight (2008): 14,343,197
  3. Simon Sinek on how great leaders inspire action (2010): 14,228,854
  4. Brene Brown talks about the power of vulnerability (2010): 12,703,623
  5. Amy Cuddy on how your body language shapes who you are (2012): 12,682,694
  6. Pranav Mistry on the thrilling potential of SixthSense (2009): 12,068,105
  7. Tony Robbins asks why we do what we do (2006): 10,425,014
  8. David Gallo‘s underwater astonishments (2007): 10,266,221
  9. Mary Roach on 10 things you didn’t know about orgasm (2009): 9,435,954
  10. Daniel Pink on the surprising science of motivation (2009): 9.176,053
  11. Pattie Maes and Pranav Mistry demo SixthSense (2009): 8, 363,339
  12. Dan Gilbert asks: Why are we happy? (2004): 7,788,151
  13. Hans Rosling shows the best stats you’ve ever seen (2006): 7,685,726
  14. Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing your creative genius (2009): 7,593,076
  15. Steve Jobs on how to live before you die (2005): 7,223,258
  16. Susan Cain shares the power of introverts (2012): 6,807,240
  17. Keith Barry does brain magic (2004): 6,371,778
  18. David Blaine reveals how he held his breath for 17 minutes (2010): 6,359,084
  19. Pamela Meyer on how to spot a liar (2010): 6,256,589
  20. Arthur Benjamin does mathemagic (2005): 4,951,918
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The sound of christmas glee

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What do you want for christmas? Have you already made a list? Sometimes, I can be 3b18f4f805dff326ceec6429ed64303b Ch¨
a listomanic (people would never believe this, as much as I forget), and when it comes to christmas I like to write down what I want, and what I shall give to others. I try to start early with the preparations, so that I have enough time to think about what I`ll give to whom. It`s always been important for me to find good presents, and I still do. I especially like thoughtful gifts, or 

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gifts with meaning, and that can be challenging. If you have ideas, feel free to comment. One of the ideas I really fallen for the last year, is giving someone a heart-warming gift. Two years ago I gave my mum a «goat». This might seem strange, but I actually bought a goat. Not to her, that is, but to a little boy in Africa. She got the «evidence» of this, and loved the fact that her gift had been to make a family happy. Since she never wants anything, this was perfect for her. I`ve also found a web-page with a similar concept: You can give women better lives as gifts for others. I think many would actually appreciate it, since we often have too many socks or books, anyway. But what we don`t have is the glowing warmth of doing something good for others. This feeling is a rare gift, and what I try to evoke when I wrap gifts in self-made paper. Christmas should be about love, and for me, it is. 

This year, give your loved ones meaningful holiday gifts that help women survivors of war rebuild their lives. This holiday season, browse our Gifts that Give Back catalog and honor someone special with a gift that will leave a lasting impact on women’s lives.

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The sound of shifting perspectives

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In the  I run. Another tree, green needles nipping my soles. Another blind road. Turning back, my dress fluttering behind me, breathing heavily. Where now?
Back again? I run to the left instead, a shrub scraping my leg as I fly past it. My pulse lifts anxiety sharply. UpthereWhere? Another step forward in the confusing forest. Back and forth. How many hours have I been running? How much further, before I collapse in a tired heap and let leaves cover my body? The pulse is on its brink. Colorful explosions lurk behind the next breath piercing my lungs. I must stop, my thoughts manage to whisper. As I take another step forward, I notice something strange happening. Like I was the main character in , my foot step on air. The air hardens, builds under me and push me upwards. My eyes wide open from bewilderment. Needles from the trees now scrape against my ungracious flailing hands. I never learnt to fly. Am I supposed to do swimming motions? Flapping my hands up and down? Suddenly I realize I`m floating over the tree-tops. I see I was running in circles. To my satisfaction, I realize my castle was in the clouds and not on earth, after all.

Such is the feeling of shifting perspectives

The bridges we build

I was in my bed, head throbbing from the most fun I`ve had in months. Suddenly Sherlock Holmes knocks on my mind, begging to be let in.

In Re: Sherlock Holmes

He is a determined man, and the solution is never out of his reach. An example is the story about the horse who vanished. A man has been killed,  at the same time as a price-winning horse disappear right under everyone`s eyes.  All suspects are questioned, but before long, every possibility has been exhausted . That is when Mr Neuroscience puts his feet on the same invisible air-step and fly over everyone`s theories. He breaks free from all details, the impossibilities and arrives safely at eureka station. The killer was the horse, and the horse was not who they thought it was. It’s the obvious logic of looking at something upside-down.

Handsome insights

Another handsome smile rise inside my mental fantasies. The main character from Perception`s face change into his personal aha-moment, and the features align to the attractive “off-course look” I`d gladly sell my iPad for. The episode is about a serial killer who begins a new killing spree after a 20-year sabbatical. The detectives and hunky Dr. neuroscience have found his diaries, but still search in vain for the persons described in it. After a while it hits him like a bullet from outer space: The killer had never had the experiences he described. Everything was a twisted dream the killer needed to feel happy

Lifting thoughts away from the dusty ruts, is a wonderful experience. It is those moments when everything you thought you knew is thrown away. You still feel that things make sense like never before.

The importance of our minds taking leaps like these, are obvious. When we are able to rise from one network of associated cells to a new one, the result is insight. Just think about the color red. What will automatically also pop up in your head? I would think other colors, a rose or a heart might just have been on your mind. Our nerve-cells are a fine spiderweb of interconnecting stations, and where we go off and on usually follow a typical pattern.

Disorganized 

Did you know that manic and schizophrenic`s have associations that often create a mess? And what about the dissociative patients, who in their mind’s eye transform their fright to a little girl shaking in a corner. In anxiety the nerve-cells clump together in shaking companionship. They have enough with the task of protecting their walls, and do not stretch out to their neighbor cells. The outside focus likewise shrink to some threatening hotspots, leaving

Drawing of Purkinje cells (A) and granule cell...

out any other source of stimuli. This is the way our cells of life behave. Sometimes they erratically send sparks in every direction, at other times not bothering with sending signals at all, when the sun has sunken and let depression clip their wings of dendrites. So, when is it likely that Eureka comes? When will the the sound of weaving make its masterpiece?

Creative connections

Some minds are naturally more flexible than others. They consist of a social bunch of nerve-cells that love to connect with fat-shrouded cells from a variety of areas. They are not afraid of flying, even if they risk falling. To not make a mess, like an enraged cook who takes everything he sees and throws it blindly into the frying pan would do, their cell-knots are balanced carefully.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Protected: The sound of splintering crystal

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Protected: The sound of neglecting potential

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