Author: Saif Elkilani

There are two main things I learned about writing in this class. Firstly, the rhetorical situation of literature and its components. How we must observe and absorb what we are reading and likewise focus are writing on its purpose, audience, and genre. Secondly, I learned about different types of writing like a “CV of Failures”(which I thought was pretty cool) and how to write a report in a way I hadn’t previously been exposed to.

The report from Major Assignment 2 taught me there are different kinds of research that can be woven into to one conclusion. I could add self-reporting to outside research to form a more profound conclusion.

My strongest assignments were definitely the blog posts while my weakest assignments was Major Assignment 2.

MA 2 Revision

MA2 Reflection

MA1 Final Draft

MA1 Reflection

The easy part of conducting research on the topic of self-efficacy’s relationship to creative flow is finding data that supports one consistent conclusion. That it directly benefits creative flow. It also is easy to connect the dots on why and how. I have discovered through my research that low self-esteem can pre-occupy your thoughts, leading to wasted time and constant distraction. Self-esteem isn’t a fixed number however. It can change through acceptance and effort. Focusing on small success can bring in more mindfulness and focus. Observing yourself doing something creative gives you the confidence/realization that you can be more creative with greater efficiency.

The only difficulty I can point to within my research is finding scientific explanations for why this is the case in a way that I can then turn into a written piece. Most research tends to follow the pattern of: Input X produces Input Y and here is why such an equation is reasonable. It is philosophical more than psychological.

Overall I think I have a clear picture of how I want to write my draft. Most of my writing will be connecting data from myself to general claims from the authors of my sources to make overall conclusions.

The research I’ve conducted has revealed a consistent theme. A strong sense of self-belief not only enhances your creative output but is a necessary condition for creative productivity. Self-esteem is typically developed throughout one’s childhood and teenage years as a result of experiences and internal perceptions.

A lot of this research directly relates to my own habits. Things like waking up early, engaging in positive inner self-talk, and breaking down larger tasks into more manageable ones make me feel more confident and accomplished. This mentality builds upon itself with a greater flow, faster work pace, and clearer, more creative thoughts. My critical thinking and problem-solving skills increase when I feel more confident in myself. It is the driving factor. Which brings me to my second part of the research. How do you develop self-efficacy with consistency?

There are several sources I would have liked to use, but due to their length, it would require a longer project to do so. One book in particular, written by experts in psychology, “The CreativeSelf: The Effect of Beliefs, Self-Efficacy, Mindset, and Identity,” would provide a deeper dive into the science behind why self-belief leads to greater creative output.

So far I have been mapping out a road for my research project using various articles that I have found. I have been reading mostly short articles to find the right genre and keywords for what I am looking for. I want to piece together what bad habits stunt creativity, how self-doubt creates bad habits, and how self-doubt becomes common in an individual.

One such article is The power of self-belief: why quiet confidence is essential for creative professionals by Katy Cowan. Cowan lays out keys to gaining belief that she advises the reader to do as well to remove their creative block. She directs her success to hard work and determination that came from building up her self-esteem. She claims that although many overlook the importance of working on how we view ourselves, it is essential because, “authentic confidence can be the differentiating factor that sets your creative output apart in a crowded market”.

Another interesting source I’ve read Creative Self-Efficacy: Its Potential Antecedents and Relationship to Creative Performance by Pamela Tierney and Steven M. Farmer, is an academic study on the relationship between confidence and creative flow. This source correlates self-efficacy as a predictor of creative performance.

I have always struggled with time management and procrastination. As someone working with ADHD, I tend to be hyper-efficient in short time frames after long periods of stalling progress. My experience has made this research project particularly interesting to me. I will research the following question: To what degree does self-confidence on a day-to-day basis affect my creative flow?

To begin this process, I observed my own behavior. I paid close attention to my productivity yesterday – at work, completing class work, LSAT studying, and my daily routine, like going to the gym. My limited observational study has given me reason to support the early conclusion that self-confidence and comfortability have a great deal with my own creativity. I am looking forward to diving deeper into research by collecting sources. These sources will include news articles, independent research reports, and mental wellness books.

With three weeks to finish my first draft of the research project, my plan is as follows: The first week, gathering sources through online research. I found sources under the search “creative blocks” in the UC library, namely Setting free the actor: overcoming creative blocks by Ann Brenber. In the second week after gathering my sources and completing an observational study of myself. I will stitch together my data and create an outline with a thesis statement. Finally, I will draft my paper based on my outline for submission

My goal is to collect enough data over the next couple of weeks to eliminate bias that may come from personal observation and answer counter-arguments to my conclusion. I would also like to dive deeper into specific examples of creative block and what causes low self-esteem in the first place. I look forward to it!