Hyderabad: She’s among the most versatile performers in the entertainment industry, and known to push creative boundaries with every new album. But pop icon Lady Gaga recently admitted that she went through a period of mental stagnation, which affected her adversely. “I really got lost for a while,” she said in an interview, adding that she felt like she didn’t even know who she was anymore. Then, a collaboration with jazz great Tony Bennett helped her rediscover “the fighter, the boxer” within her, and she launched a new album Cheek To Cheek. It is being talked of as her “most different work yet”.
Indeed, seeking out a new creative endeavour one that requires you to step out of your comfort zone is widely believed by experts to be a great way of breaking out of a cycle of mental exhaustion. “Doing something new helps reveal a new side of you, risk-taking is a very important aspect of self-discovery,” says life coach Devanshi Gandhi. She explains how harmful “the rut of a routine” that people let themselves fall into can be, with the help of leadership guru Marshall Goldsmith’s adage: “What got you here won’t get you there”. “You may have reached a particular level today, but if you feel you are stagnating; you may have to change your strategies, methods, partnerships to get to the next level,” Devanshi adds.
Experts point out that no matter what field you are in, everyone reaches a “learning plateau” where a skill you’ve performed repeatedly begins to feel “routine”. Inner reflection and sharing are key processes in breaking through this plateau, says life coach Chetna Mehrotra. “Inner reflection helps understand what is happening with respect to your life goals and aspirations while sharing could take place with a confidante,” she says, offering an exercise set out by author Richard Bolles in his book What Colour Is Your Parachute? “Inventory what you have done well and enjoyed then figure out what skills were involved, and also where you can use those skills. You can choose to make this an exploration or chore, but it’s an essential exercise,” says Chetna.
Yet another set of exercises that aid in self-discovery is offered by life coach Khyati Birla. She recommends learning a new art form, taking up any personality-developing endeavour, framing positive “what if” questions and visualising the answer (for instance, what if the restrictions I have now, no longer exist?) and practising meditation or a new sport.
Alfred Lee, the associate creative director at a leading advertising firm, also offers solutions like “free writing” beginning with a sentence like “This is an idea for….” and continuing to write until you reach an answer. “Talking to someone outside of your field and asking them how they would solve your problem can also spur your own creativity,” Alfred says.
“When people stop believing in what they are doing or their lives have turned monotonous, they do start feeling a little lost,” says Khyati. “A new creative endeavour can be quite rewarding and add quality to your life.”
