We live in stressful times. And stress is a creativity killer.

I'm not talking about the economy or wars or crime. Sure, macro-madness adds to our stress levels - lends a sort of ambient, draining buzz, like the hum of fluorescent lights. But that kind of stress is easy to deal with - just turn off your TV and radio. Tell the tragedy mongers to shut up. Stop talking to people who trade stories of catastrophe like baseball cards. All the global, big bad wolves are distractions - an excuse that draws our attention away from doing the real, nasty, everyday hard work that really changes things. It's a cheap, easy adrenaline fix. And it makes people stupid.

Relax, if you can, and see if your work doesn't improve. But don't make stress reduction a goal. In fact, don't make anything a goal. Goal-orientation makes you stupid too. I know, I know. We're all told that goal-setting is the key to life and success. But that's a lie. Goal-setting is about orchestrating rewards for hard work. The old carrot on a stick. Several studies have shown that when people work for reward, their creativity capacity diminishes. Strange, right? Not really. What happens is the desire, the lust to achieve the goal, overtakes personal interest. Goal-junkies get so focused on the reward and the outcome that the anticipation overshadows all the joy and stimulation involved in the process of creation.

Basically, people stop taking risks because they're concerned they won't reach their goals. They lose the spontaneity and free flow of energy and ideas that lie at the core of the creative process.

Prolonged stress - whatever the cause - drains our physical and mental resources, like having a hole in your pocket. Except instead of losing change, you're losing physical, emotional, psychological and social capability. Stress wreaks havoc on your body.  It makes it hard to focus. If you're running around like a glitched-out robot on crank, you're unlikely to find those blessed, nourishing states of mind and body where thoughts and ideas flow freely from that quiet, creative center. You are even less likely to translate whatever bubbles up into colors, visions, sounds, patterns, movements, actions, etc.  I don't have space to go into the neurological and psycho-pharmacological subtleties, but assure you that stress, fear and chaos literally short-circuit access to your creative center.

"But, but ... I make all kinds of art when I'm stressed. I need stress to make art. ..."

No you don't. Forced creativity combined with all the physical, psychological and emotional chaos generated by stress usually makes for bad art. You may be creating, but I guarantee the work you produce won't be your best. And it won't provide the transcendent satisfaction and peace that every artist needs. The more time you spend stressed, the harder it will be to access that creative center.

Next week, I'll offer some super-secret techniques that you can use to shatter stress. Until then, relax.

Joe Malik is a jaded, ornery, "power to the people type" that can't help but comment on all the stupid, awesome, or just plain questionable stuff he sees within the local arts community. Basically, he's kind of an arts-centric asshole - but we like him. The Weekly Volcano doesn't always agree with what he says, but we do enjoy stirring the pot.