Now’s the Time for Right-Brain Thinking In the Age of COVID-19
Photo by Tim Mossholder
I have read so many thoughtful and poignant essays about the impact of the COVID-19. The insights are often provocative, astute, and perceptive. Much of the thinking resonates strongly with me. And I find I don’t have much to add to the conversation which has not already been said.
Indeed, on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, we are all focused on daily survival and our efforts revolve around staying healthy and avoiding the spread of this virus.
And many of us are asking ourselves, what else can we do?
With heart and passion, some of us are exploring ways to help healthcare workers and all professionals who are on the front lines fighting this battle to keep our communities safe and operational. Others are helping to shore up the gaps in service to those in need. Equally important is finding ways to keep our small businesses alive, ordering take out, purchasing online first from small businesses in our local communities.
We all have a role to play.
Meanwhile, as we adhere to the “stay at home” mandate, we watch the latest TV Series, read, help our children with home schooling and work on projects around the house we have put off.
But there is a golden opportunity we are also presented with at this time. Let me share my thinking…
As leadership and small business consultants, my business partner and I certify entrepreneurs and other small businesses as Benefit Corporations for Good. In supporting these purpose-driven businesses, I am a strong voice advocating that business leaders and individuals exercise their creative right-brain more, rather than focusing solely on the dominant left-brain, which is analytical, logical and concerned with reason, math, facts and linear thinking.
In a blog describing right-brain thinking from high-tech company Equinix in Silicon Valley:
“ The bottom line is to help people reengage with the right side of their brain, to bring that creative spirit back into the workplace, and to look at things differently. We believe companies can see big benefits from getting their employees to do more right-brain thinking. Not only can it bring better balance to their lives, but it can bring a creativity to work that sparks innovation and enhances problem-solving.”
Unfortunately, when I ask business leaders to allocate a minimum of an hour a week to a purely creative endeavor, the response I commonly get is:
“I have no time to dedicate towards creative activities.”
Yet, today in shattering twist of fate, business leaders ironically now have some time.
So, I suggest we turn off the TV, silence our phones, put down the book. Pick up a pencil, a paintbrush, a tool, some clay, flowers, fabric, your camera, guitar, cookbooks. Be curious and try something creative, something perhaps you have always wanted to do. Or resurrect a hobby that has been languishing because you haven’t had the time or attention to give it.
An Entrepreneur article emphasizes, “Exercise your Creativity like a Muscle.” In our current circumstances, we all have an opportunity to stretch that muscle as we are quarantined inside.
It is a challenging, difficult and sad time for all of us around the world and I don’t want to trivialize this reality. But as we turn inward, let’s not resort to passive activities but rather embrace “Stay at Home” as a time to reinvigorate the spirit of creativity.
Finally, from personal experience, I know creative activities boost mindfulness and help shift our minds away from stressful thinking and worry. It is an “in the moment process” that quiets the mind. I think we all could do with a little of that.
As always, wishing for your health and safety during this crisis but remember now may be the time to open the door to right-brain thinking and creativity.
~benefitcorporationsforgood.com~