Prompts to ignite Human Cognition & Creativity

I have developed a somatic growth-driven creative leadership method over the course of my 28 years in the creative industries.  The main aim was to tie in daily, weekly and monthly check-ins (questions or prompts to dive deeper into the senses and the intuitions hidden in plain sight when dealing with uncertainty.

You can find the Google Calendars templates here:

Daily Check-Ins

Weekly Check-Ins

Monthly Check-Ins

The idea was to create a list of these prompts to be kept reminded of how to identify where each of a person's emotional waves is situated:  the wave of inner security and authentic sovereignty, the wave of creative idea generation and leadership, the wave of timing and conscious use of unstructured time.

The goal of this identification is to make decisions out of clarity and not confusion.

Utilizing somatic awareness in combination with creative leadership can be a powerful way to tap into one's intuition and navigate uncertainty.  I have identified specific waves or aspects to focus on, such as inner security and authentic sovereignty, creative idea generation and leadership, and timing and conscious use of unstructured time.

To help you create a list of prompts for each wave, here are some suggestions:

The Wave of inner security and authentic sovereignty:

1. How do I feel in my body right now? What sensations or tensions do I notice?
2. Am I aligned with my core values and beliefs in this situation?
3. What actions can I take to honour and express my authentic self?
4. What boundaries do I need to set to maintain my inner security?
5. What self-care practices can I engage in to nurture my well-being and confidence?

The Wave of creative idea generation and Leadership:

1. What excites and inspires me in this project or situation?
2. What are some unconventional approaches or perspectives I can explore?
3. How can I encourage and empower others to contribute their creative ideas?
4. Am I open to receiving feedback and incorporating new ideas?
5. How can I communicate my vision effectively to inspire others?

The wave of timing and conscious use of unstructured time:

1. What is the most appropriate timing for taking action or making a decision?
2. Do I need to allow space for reflection and incubation before moving forward?
3. How can I optimize my use of unstructured time to foster creativity and innovation?
4. Are there any external factors or trends that may influence timing considerations?
5. What strategies can I implement to balance structure and flexibility in my approach?

Remember, these prompts are meant to serve as a starting point, and you can customize them based on your specific needs and preferences. The goal is to cultivate self-awareness, tap into your intuition, and make decisions from a place of clarity and confidence.

These three emotional Waves are linked to three Creative Pillars:  CALM, MAGIC and LOVE.

CALM + LOVE = MAGIC

It all started with a simple equation that would tie calmness and creativity and produce a magical state of flow.

The idea behind the framework emanated from a collection of observations about the poetics of ideation, concept planning, and prototyping to give insights on how to get into the flow states that allow:

1. Efficient and prolific Seeding of ideas to augment their chances of manifesting Clarity
2. Mapping complexities of a project/initiative
3. Scheduling actions to take/breaks to recover/moments to introspect
4. Seeing/perceiving/measuring
5. Loving/Appreciation/Supporting

CHORDS

1. Chances (Sparks & Seeds / Are you acting out of blind luck of from Preparedness)
2. Heart (Purpose / Heart-Centered Work)
3. Observations and Ontological Awareness (Envisioning the speculative futures / Foretelling using ecology, spirituality, space and dialogues)
4. Reversal and Renewal (Inversion / Looking backward/ What happens if you stop what you do ? What happens if you do it with even more commitment ? Letting go of expectations / Surrendering to the unknown)
5. Design ( Installing design practices, installing dialogue around design maturity in the organization and installing design playgrounds - Exploring, Modeling & prototyping
6. Strategic structure (Soil / Ground for Truth / Foundations)

LENS

All our Creative Chords are tuned from various perspectives and it is crucial to check in on the various dimensions a CHORDS can have when looked at from a new perspective.

1. Landscapes (what is the business landscapes this idea/concept trying to cover, what is the scope or area of effort
2. Energies (what is the energy required to work on these chords, in this landscape? what is the available energy right now?  Is that idea/concept/project give me energy? How much energy does it give me when I work on it?
3. Norms (What are the constraints of this idea/concept/project? Are they helping me be more creative?  Are these norms inspirations for breakthroughs or are they facilitating sabotage?
4. Synergies (Who are you attracting when working on this?  Is your network expanding or collapsing?  Connective Intelligence phenomena are observable socially, synergies are felt not imagined.

So every CHORDS you have in you is surrounded by LENS.  The 4 lenses are Landscape, Energy, Norms and Synergies.

AGENDAS

To set things in motion we need to focus on What the LENS have highlighted in the CHORDS at play in your life. 

AGENDAS is really about following Todd Henry's Creativity Calendar specifically tying in CHORDS and LENS check-ins inside a calendar.

There are 7 types of agendas and they relate to the stage of creative work.  Check-ins of that KIND really are structured around pragmatic concerns on how to use time more effectively.  By allowing the structure and strategy behind an idea to be organized in a plan we must become adaptative to how we use our time more efficiently and with more awareness.  

Also, AGENDAS are strongly tied to the Piillar of LOVE where the quality of attention to put on each CHORDS and LENS is selected.  Picture AGENDAS as the logbook of a gardener looking at every plant/tree/flower in his gardens looking at the moon cycles, making sure the soil is wet and that nutrients are being provided appropriately.

1. Analysis
2. Guidelines
3. Elaboration
4. Negotiation
5. Development
6. Adaptation
7. Secrets

MAPS

Checkins for MAPS are all about communication tools.  Methodological approaches, Architecture principles, Protocols awareness, Systems Thinking.  Once you have clarity about why an idea or concept matter and must be materialized further you will need to communicate the news to your surrounding at some point.... to enable the transformation of a concept into a product you will need to use different modalities to tell your story and harness the power of the collective consciousness.

Collaboration is of the essence here as you do not create maps for your own sake.  Also, MAPS arent represents a specific territory but rather tell a specific detail of something but not the whole story.

CALM

The CALM check-ins are built around the notion of how we take chances and what the type of ideas we are gardening inside our brains and bodies can actually become concepts, how we narrate our life to others and to ourselves, how we make sure we are working from a heart-based perspective and not focusing on attachments or outcomes, on creating from intuitions and not from fears, that Design is used to create dialogues not to simply gain validation.

The questions are not necessarily supposed to be asked in a linear way but mostly act as catalysts and triggers to dive deeper into the areas where someone's body/mind is stuck.  The goal again in practicing such inquiry is to get unstuck from a place in time and allow expansion to take place.

MAGIC

MAGIC check-ins are all about the Modalities and Postures we can adopt to feel the CALM.  They are Nutrients you put in the soil of your garden(s).

1- Types of Mindsets to explore

Focus on Clarity, Daring Innovative, Global, Adaptative, Mundane, Prolific, Autotelic, Perpetual Failure, Broken Drum, Poetic Curiosity, Playful, Unlearning, Accountability

2- Types of Agility

What are the skills and capabilities you need to develop, have, and transform to work on this idea/concept/project?  Am I working on myself or looking for validation?  Am I learning anything when working on this?  What am I trying to Translate to get understood/heard? In what Transition(s) am I? In what Transformation(s) am I?

3- Goals & Gardens 

Have I set clear goals regarding this?  Do I monitor the growth of this properly? How am I fixing objectives for those goals?  Am I realistic in implementing my AGENDAS?  How much Love is required to attain those goals?  I don't do overwhelmed so are my Goals set in a way that I respect this principle?  Goals check-in is the most rational segment of the CALM MAGIC LOVE.  What are the goals I have that are based on Fears instead of risk management, what are the goals set by my Muses and Musings? What are the Goals set by the act of experiencing and Performing?

4- Intuitions

Intuitions are a direct bridge to our imaginations. Their nature can be Dialogical, Spatial, Accidental and Transcendental.

5-Compasses

Compasses are not like MAPS. Compass check-ins are invitations to actually sketch radar charts and other visualizations of where you are regarding anything in your life/universe.  They are a visual canvas that allows the mind to be mapped on a 2d plane.  They could be considered part of MAPS but their nature is not to only communicate as they also look to alter how we communicate.

LOVE

Love check-ins are weekly and monthly and they relate to the quality of attention and the self-awareness you have developed to notice where you are in your waves.

Longevity

First Attention Quality is about Longevity and Long-Term effort.  So when looking at your CHORDS, AGENDAS, LENS and even Maps you take a look at what will require time to grow and what does not merit your time.  What are the actions in your agendas that must be long-term and that are asking for more patience and compassion?  Garden Metaphor:  Seed

Oscillations

Second attention quality is around what oscillates and looks unstable or moving in uncertain ways (that is where you assess where you are on each 3 waves.  What are the actions required to keep moving away from instability and choose a preferable direction?   Garden Metaphor: Nurturing

Velocity

The third attention quality is around Velocity Direction and Speed of action.  What needs to accelerate its growth?  Metaphor:  Nourish

Empathy & Emotional Intelligence

The fourth Attention quality is Empathy and Emotional Intelligence where the idea of trimming comes in.  Some project's ideas and concepts consume too much love and it is not helping the garden to grow and be healthy and will demand a sacrifice.  This effort to choose which plants, flowers and trees will survive in your garden is demanding but it also makes space for seeds to be experimented on.  Sometimes you need to reset your garden and let go of what could have grown.

CALM:

The CALM check-ins revolve around creating a calm and centred mindset to foster creativity and decision-making. The focus is on taking chances, nurturing heart-centred work, observing and being aware of speculative futures, embracing reversal and renewal, and implementing design practices and prototypes. It encourages working from intuition and avoiding attachment to outcomes.

MAGIC:

MAGIC check-ins involve exploring different mindsets and postures that enhance creativity and the overall creative process. It involves cultivating mindsets such as focus, innovation, adaptability, and playfulness. Additionally, it encourages agility, learning, translation, and recognizing transitions and transformations. Goals and gardens, intuitions, and compasses are also explored in this pillar.

LOVE:

LOVE check-ins occur on a weekly and monthly basis and emphasize the quality of attention and self-awareness in relation to the three waves (inner security and authentic sovereignty, creative idea generation and leadership, and timing and conscious use of unstructured time). It involves different attention qualities, including longevity and long-term effort, nurturing and stability, velocity and speed of action, and empathy and emotional intelligence.

By incorporating these pillars, you are creating a holistic framework that addresses different aspects of creative leadership and decision-making. The prompts and check-ins you have developed under each pillar provide guidance and self-reflection opportunities for individuals to cultivate self-awareness, navigate uncertainty, and make decisions from a place of clarity.

It's important to note that the effectiveness of this framework will depend on individual preferences and circumstances. Feel free to customize and adapt it to suit your specific needs and context.

Daily Check-ins:

Daily Check-Ins Google Calendar Template

CALM:

• What chances or opportunities did I encounter today? How did I respond to them?
• Did I approach my work with a heart-centred mindset today?
• What observations or insights did I gain today? How can I use them to envision speculative futures?
• Did I embrace reversal and renewal in my work today? How did it affect my creativity?
• How did I incorporate design practices and prototypes into my day?
• Did I establish a strategic structure for my work today?

MAGIC:

• What mindset did I adopt today? How did it contribute to my sense of calm and creativity?
• Did I embrace agility in my work today? How did I adapt and learn from my experiences?
• Did I set clear goals and monitor their progress today? How can I ensure a realistic and balanced approach?
• How did I connect with my intuitions today? What insights did they provide?
• Did I use any compasses or visualizations to map my progress today? How did it enhance my understanding?
• How did I incorporate love and attention into my work today?

LOVE:

• Did I dedicate time to long-term efforts today? How can I cultivate patience and compassion?
• How did I navigate uncertainty and instability in my work today? What actions helped me move in a preferable direction?
• Where did I accelerate my growth today? How can I sustain and nourish it further?
• Did I practice empathy and emotional intelligence in trimming my projects today? How did it contribute to the health of my overall creative garden?

Weekly Check-ins:

Weekly Check-Ins Google Calendar Template

CALM:

• Reflect on the chances or opportunities you encountered this week. Which ones were based on luck versus preparedness?
• How did you align your work with your purpose and heart-centred approach this week?
• What new observations or ontological awareness did you gain this week? How did they inform your future visions?
• Did you embrace reversal and renewal during the week? How did it impact your expectations and openness to the unknown?
• Reflect on the design practices and prototypes you explored this week. How did they enhance your creative process?
• Assess the strategic structure you established for your work this week. Are you laying a solid foundation for truth?

MAGIC:

• Review the mindsets you adopted throughout the week. Which ones were most effective in fostering calm and creativity?
• Evaluate your agility in acquiring new skills and adapting to changes. What transitions and transformations did you experience?
• Assess the progress of your goals and gardens. Are they aligned with risk management rather than driven by fears?
• Reflect on how you connected with your intuitions during the week. How did they contribute to your creative insights?
• Review the compasses and visualizations you used. How did they help you map your progress and communicate effectively?
• Assess the level of love and attention you put into your work this week. Did it contribute to the quality of your output?

LOVE:

• Reflect on the long-term efforts you dedicated yourself to during the week. How did you cultivate patience and resilience?
• Review how you navigated uncertainty and instability. What actions helped you maintain balance and choose a preferable direction?
• Identify areas where you need to accelerate your growth. How can you nourish and support them further?
• Assess your trimming efforts. Which projects or ideas demanded excessive love and needed to be let go? How did it create space for experimentation?

Monthly Check-ins:

Monthly Check-Ins Google Calendar Template

CALM:

• Reflect on the chances or opportunities you encountered throughout the month. How did they shape your creative journey?
• How did you embody a heart-centred approach in your work this month? What impact did it have on your overall well-being and creativity?
• Review the observations and ontological awareness you gained over the month. How did they contribute to your ability to envision speculative futures?
• Reflect on your willingness to embrace reversal and renewal. How did it shape your perspective and willingness to let go of expectations?
• Evaluate the effectiveness of your design practices and prototypes throughout the month. How did they enhance your exploration and ideation?
• Assess the strategic structure you established and maintained. Is it providing a solid foundation for truth and growth in your work?

MAGIC:

• Review the mindsets you adopted during the month. Which ones proved most powerful in fostering a sense of calm and unleashing your creativity?
• Reflect on your agility in acquiring new skills and capabilities. How did it contribute to your growth and adaptability?
• Evaluate the progress of your goals and gardens over the month. Are they aligned with a balanced and realistic approach?
• How did your connection with intuitions evolve throughout the month? What insights did they provide and how did you integrate them into your work?
• Assess the effectiveness of the compasses and visualizations you used. How did they enable you to communicate your ideas and understand complex systems?
• Reflect on the level of love and attention you brought to your work. How did it impact the quality and depth of your creative output?

LOVE:

• Review the long-term efforts you dedicated yourself to over the month. How did you cultivate patience, perseverance, and long-term vision?
• Reflect on how you navigated uncertainty and instability. What actions and choices helped you maintain stability and move toward your desired direction?
• Identify areas where you need to accelerate your growth. How can you infuse them with more energy and momentum?
• Assess your trimming efforts. Which projects, ideas, or attachments demanded excessive love and required letting go? How did it create space for new possibilities and experimentation?

By incorporating these daily, weekly, and monthly check-ins into your Google Calendar, you can stay mindful of your progress, cultivate a calm and creative mindset, and nurture a balanced and fulfilling creative journey.

Organizational Poetry at Work: Totems, Noems, Poems

The CALM MAGIC framework is a Poetic Methodological Framework weaving together the essence of totems, noems, and poems to embody the questions and delve into core wicked organizational and relational problems. It invites a creative and reflective approach to problem-solving, infusing it with depth, beauty, and meaning.

Totems: The Pillars of Foundation

Totems represent the foundational elements of the framework, grounding it in essential principles and values. They provide a solid base upon which the framework is built, ensuring integrity and coherence in addressing complex challenges. Each totem serves as a guiding force in navigating the organizational and relational landscape.

1. CALM Totem: Embrace the power of calmness and inner peace. Cultivate a sense of serenity and equanimity as you navigate challenges, allowing creativity and intuition to flourish.
2. MAGIC Totem: Unleash the magic within. Embrace the enchantment of the creative process and tap into the realms of imagination and wonder. Dare to explore uncharted territories and embrace the unexpected.
3. LOVE Totem: Infuse every action with love and compassion. Cultivate empathy and emotional intelligence, fostering harmonious relationships and nurturing growth. Let love guide your interactions and decisions.

Noems: Illuminating the Core Problems

Noems illuminate the core problems, shedding light on the intricate challenges that need to be addressed within the organizational and relational context. They serve as guiding beacons, directing attention toward the heart of the matter and encouraging deep inquiry.

1. CHORDS Noem: Tune into the chords of creativity. Explore the chances, heart-centred work, observations, reversals, designs, and strategic structures that shape your creative journey. How can you harmonize these elements to unlock your full creative potential?
2. AGENDAS Noem: Design intentional actions and plans. Focus on analysis, guidelines, elaboration, negotiation, development, adaptation, and the secrets that propel your progress. How can you craft purposeful agendas that align with your goals and values?
3. LENS Noem: Reframe your perspective and broaden your vision. Explore landscapes, energies, norms, and synergies surrounding your creative endeavours. How can you perceive and engage with these lenses to gain new insights and perspectives?
4. MAPS Noem: Navigate the realms of communication and understanding. Dive into narratives, roadmaps, circles, workflows, playbooks, perspectives, and the art of sensemaking. How can you craft maps that communicate your ideas and facilitate collective understanding?

Poems: Expressing Wisdom and Insights

Poems encapsulate the wisdom and insights gained through the exploration of totems and noems. They are the creative expressions that emerge from deep contemplation and reflection, capturing the essence of the journey. Poems invite the interplay of words, images, and emotions, giving voice to the richness of experience and offering inspiration for transformative action.

In the Poetic Methodological Framework, totems, noems, and poems intertwine, creating a tapestry of meaning and guidance. They provide a holistic approach to addressing wicked problems, infusing the process with creativity, compassion, and depth. Embrace this framework as a companion on your journey, allowing it to ignite your imagination and illuminate your path.