Quiet Revolution offers an online hub for introverts and advocates the creation of safe spaces in schools and workplaces for solitude and creativity.

How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live! Methinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. —HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Shelley H. Carson, author of Your Creative Brain,

mental contrasting, which involves imagining the desired goal, and then visualizing the obstacles (both internal and external) that might realistically get in the way of your ability to achieve that goal.

the harmoniously passionate road—is the most direct path. It’s paved with a focus on mastery, learning, and growth rather than on things like looking good, becoming famous, or beating others. This path is fueled by feelings of vitality, positive emotions, and joy.

George Bernard Shaw: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

many of the things we do “just for fun,” like gaming, actually are crucial to our life happiness, resiliency, work performance, and creativity.31

creative minds learn to balance seriousness with fun and enjoyment in one’s work. Playing with work gives us a certain lightness and flexibility when generating new ideas and also helps motivate us to continue to work long hours without becoming too stressed or depleted.

For many artists—particularly writers—this crucial “tissue of experience” comes from youth, and the ability to access a deep well of early memories and emotions can facilitate their creative work.