Mind vs matter

Your brain is your body is your brain

For the longest time I felt like a divine thinking machine delivered in rather inconvenient packaging. I was annoyed to no end that there seemed to be physical limitations to my intellectual pursuits. That this unruly mass of fat, nerves, hair, and fluids would always find ways to escape my control.

And it wasn't just me – it was infuriating when my work was discounted because it came from a soft, fertile, girl shaped container.

We've been sold that it doesn't matter who tells the story, so long as it's told well. People love to go on about how they "don't see colour", and "only care about the quality" while defending a monochrome festival lineup. But this idea is old. It’s an extension of the religious and scholarly belief that the purest form of being is a rational mind in an obedient body.

Ideally a white, male, able and straight body. That those who deviate from this are somehow more physical, and therefore less worthy.

That queer, fat, disabled, bleeding and pregnant bodies can only be tolerated in certain amounts, and must be trimmed, shrunk, covered and perfumed to be closer to acceptable. That their experiences are less trustworthy, interesting, valid and universal. But this is the patriarchy speaking, and it's robbing us of great art.

Creativity is physical

My brain, where all the magic happens, is a part of my body. You simply cannot separate the two. My stories, experiences, emotions and perceptions all live in this one vessel. It's my only tool for reflection, expression and connection.

I don't have a body, I am one.

And bodies are incredible. The amount of sensory data we take in through our skin, our eyes, cochlea and bowels is frankly insane. We don’t even consciously register a fraction of it. But this information is what makes us unique, because our bodies are different, and treated differently. This is the foundation for everything we do – and create.

Your sensory experiences are what makes your song lyrics incredible, both unique and universal. It's the key to making other people feel – because you make them they relive their own past sensations.

Your brain processing the world is what connects seemingly disparate concepts to create fabulous spoken word, paintings, stories and designs.

It does matter who tells the story. Because none of us get to experience the full range of what's possible in life, and we can only connect to each other by telling what we know.

We are the blind describing the elephant.

Shame kills ideas

When you feel embarrassed of your body, it's tempting to try and detach yourself from it. To separate mind and flesh. But it doesn't work, because that body is your only source material, processor and tool.

And the key to reaching your goals, whatever they are, is befriending it. Feed it, feel it, use it. Write about every disgusting detail, dress what it is, not what you wished it was.

Appreciate that anxiety is your body is trying to protect you from harm, then make yourself safe and comfortable enough to be brave.

So when in doubt, go to your gut. Is it burning with passion, shame or inauthenticity? Feel a tingle in your panties when you think about that project? Good. You're onto something.

Tune in

By observing, feeling, and treating your body well, you can access new ideas, big confidence, and cognitive stamina. By calming your inner toddler you build capacity for big, scary ideas.

So if your mind feels stuck, check in with your body and try one of these:

1. Check in. Am I hungry, thirsty, tired? Do I need to pee? Am I sad, worried, or angry? Be a good grown-up and care for your inner, creative child.
2. Get up and go outside. Take a walk, a shower, or dance around the house. More blood flow means fresh oxygen to your brain = better cognitive performance.
3. Lie down on the floor, close your eyes, and set a 15 minute timer. If you nap, great. If you don't, also great. Either way your brain gets a much needed break.

Do you have a trick for getting out of your head and into your body again? Please share it with me on Instagram @breaksomethingstudio, or just hit reply. To awkwardly quote Gen Z: besties don't gatekeep!

Nora Mihle Asklund is the writer, musician and ex-Patreon lead behind Break Something Studio – a kitchen party on the internet for people who make stuff. She helps creators stay weird, brave and stubborn enough to keep going. Find more of her thoughts and experiments at breaksomething.studio or on Instagram @breaksomethingstudio.