Nourishing habits for creative minds
“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” —John Milton, Paradise Lost
Nourish, numb, or poison. Whether it be the food we eat, the company we keep, or the information and entertainment we consume, that which we take in either nourishes us, numbs us, or poisons us. We know all the ways making good dietary choices protects our health, but in a world where we’re inundated with information and entertainment everywhere we go, it’s easy to forget that we’re also the guardians of our minds. In this attention economy, the external world won’t help us, which is why keeping ourselves creative and mentally healthy requires us to be vigilant about what we allow to take up residence in our thoughts and emotions.
I write this not as a wise expert but as someone who is prone to depression and who struggles to protect my mental health from the information I choose to consume. I may know that letting myself get wound up about news headlines or numbed by scrolling through social media beggars my world, but I still drift into looking at one more thing or reading one more dystopian article. My world shrinks. Joy flees. And if I don’t catch myself early enough, I find myself making a hell of heaven.
I’ve had enough discussions with fellow musicians to know others are struggling with similar challenges. What I’m learning—and what I’m hearing from friends—is that the only way to combat this is by consciously creating new habits for ourselves.These habits are moment by moment choices, not overarching life philosophies. We commit to studying ourselves, observing our behaviors, and compassionately identifying what habits lead to nourishment, what numbs us, and what poisons us. This isn’t a musician self-improvement project. It’s survival. Because we can’t create beautiful music from depleted selves.
If we take the time to look at our daily habits, each one of us knows what we need to spend less time consuming. When I look at my own choices, I ask myself, does this shrink or expand my world? That simple question pulls me back to myself when I start reading too many news stories or get caught up in the outrage of the day. I then set about trying to free myself from whatever negative mind loop I’ve been caught in. This is difficult. Sometimes I can reset my mind by reading something nourishing. Other times I need to get outside, absorb the beauty of the world around me, and take a long walk. And I’m learning. I’m learning that healthy routines are easier to follow than pulling myself out of mental spirals.
There’s no how-to list telling us what helps us take the best care of our minds and spirits because the only answers that speak to us are the ones that spring from our own lives. I can, however, offer a window into what has been helpful for me. Perhaps one or two of the things that help me may nourish you as well.
One thing at a time. No multitasking. Every time I start thinking I need to double up tasks in order to get more things done, I remind myself that I’m working on improving my concentration and making my life richer by not scattering my mental focus.
No news or email for the first hour of the day. I sip coffee. I read something inspirational. I express gratitude for the beauty around me and the people in my life. I start my day with hope, not despair.
Choose life-affirming entertainment. No more nihilistic books or movies. I ask myself what will make me more loving towards my community and that’s what I consume.
Get outside almost every day. After all, the birds don’t know or care about whatever political drama is blowing up that day. The trees still dance their leaves in the wind, and the river continues to sing its songs. Life goes on.
Don’t watch TV in bed. Read something beautiful instead.
Limit time with people who wish to pull me into their own unhappiness or anger.
None of these habits are foolproof, of course, and I still fall into days or weeks where I allow myself to be pulled into unhealthy behaviors, but I’ve learned one vital thing that pulls me back to my healthy habits every time: it’s within my ability to protect the sovereignty of my own mind. No one and nothing can make me feel one way or another without my mental consent. This knowledge is power. And by claiming the right to be mistress of my own mind and heart, I’m able to play, create, and love the world around me from a full, not depleted, self.
Photo by Benjamin Wedemeyer, courtesy of UpSplash