The Fear of Being Confined Posted Mar-30-2005
Chronic Creativity Symptom #1: Claustrophobia
Wanting to hop out of the box… the need to explore… a rebellious attitude. These are all characteristics of person "suffering" from Chronic Creativity's (CC) second symptom, Claustrophobia, according to Angela Mack.

I love it.

The emphasis on this excerpt is EXPLORING:

Associated with this claustrophobia is a heightened need to explore. Most people enjoy safety, comfort, and the familiar. Most people enjoy an environment that is predictable and void of change. Most people want “the way it’s always been”. However, those with CC want to explore new ways, new ideas, and new patterns of doing things. Their motive for exploration is not necessarily that they abhor the old. Sometimes they genuinely believe that there is a more efficient or better way. This need to explore is naturally in their psyche. They find it thrilling to trod on virgin soil. They are passionate about discovery and are the happiest when they are on a creative journey. They have a keen awareness and an insatiable curiosity.

I am in agreement the whole way through this chapter. In fact, Angela helped me to realize something so ironic about my last office job that reinforces how destructive claustrophobia in the workplace is.

The anecdote:

The position I held at the ABC* company required the conceptualization and implementation of a variety of marketing communications. I was not only a graphic and Web designer, but also an architect of visual and verbal communications, technical support, and promotional ideas to vendors and end-users.

I loved the creative side of my job. I thrived in my work. But there were significant things happening in my environment that was squeezing me into a tight space. Physically, my workspace was too small. My cubical was smaller than my arm span, and desk space left over after the computer was barely enough to hold an open book. Mentally, the space was tight due to a manic, overbearing manager continually riding my back on projects, insisting that I multi-task all day long on a variety of other projects he dropped into my lap. In either case, I didn’t have enough space (physically or mentally) to stay creatively productive and content in that position. I was experiencing claustrophobia on nine levels and had two choices: suffer or leave. So I left.

Claustrophobia has so many physical connotations, but considering its mental effects on the creative individual is so important in the workplace. A general manager who demands creative solutions to too many things at once and then interferes with the creative process will exasperate and ultimately lose an employee. Creative work is not the same as managing work.

That’s why I love companies that have entire departments devoted to creatives. They understand the time and space needs of copywriters, multi-media designers, Web developers, and artists. I’ve worked for both kinds of companies, and won't accept another position where those needs aren't honored.

Back to the topic of exploring. Angela drives the point home by alerting the reader to the consequences of ignoring one's own exploratory instincts:

The tragedy in life is that far too many people fail to explore. They are content in their own-boxed world. They are too afraid to ask questions. They choose to ignore their instincts for exploration. As a result, they lose their sense of exploration over time. They die “inside of the box” and miss out on a lot of living. Exploration is a choice. Sometimes, the greatest things to explore are the closest to us. Exploration does not have to be overseas. We can explore the wonder in our own backyard. We can explore the nature and history of our city. We can explore people close to us. We can explore our environment and learn something new. We can explore in the library or at a museum.

If you find pieces of yourself in the Claustrophobia excerpt, you’ll be happy to know that you can effect change. You're not left without relief in the first of a series of “shots” to address CC symptoms.

SHOT #1: EXPLORE

Start going down different paths. Ask questions. Follow your curiosity. Research your ideas. Explore your environment. Ignore those negative thoughts that tell you not to….whether they are coming from you or others. Remember, explorers like yourself have changed this world! •

* Not the real company name.

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