191 Enhancing Resilience through Creativity: Interview with Dr. Shelley Carson

Creativity is often associated with artistic talent, which can cause many of us to identify ourselves as either creative or not creative. In reality, however, we all engage in creative acts numerous times each day – and by enhancing our innate capacities for creativity, we can build resilience and improve our overall well-being.

As a researcher and instructor at Harvard University, Dr. Shelley Carson has been a consultant and expert on the topics of psychopathology, creativity, and resilience. She serves as Director of Education and Research at the Brain Health Initiative, and has also served as a subject matter expert for the Department of Defense and a scientific consultant for corporations, mental health groups, and individuals. Dr. Carson is the author of the award-winning book, “Your Creative Brain: Seven Steps to Maximize Imagination, Productivity, and Innovation in Your Life,” and she's the co-author of the critically acclaimed book, “Almost Depressed.” She has won multiple teaching awards at Harvard, and her research has been widely published in both national and international scientific journals. Join us in Episode 191 of The MINDset Game® podcast as Dr. Carson shares the following:

• Different definitions of creativity and how they may manifest in activities you perform on a day-to-day basis
• Why creativity is necessary for navigating life’s challenges with resilience, particularly in today’s rapidly changing world, and how making time for creativity can reduce stress, increase positive emotions, and ultimately boost resilience
• Why divergent thinking – which involves considering multiple potential solutions to a problem or prompt – is integral to creativity, as well as fun exercises to help you practice divergent thinking
• How to transform negative emotions, such as sadness or anxiety, through creativity 

To learn more about Dr. Shelley Carson, visit www.shelleycarson.com, or https://extension.harvard.edu to explore her courses and others from Harvard Extension School.

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