b"INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY Interestingly,freemeditation,whichemphasizeslisteningtoone's subjectiveexperience,hasbeenshowntoincreasebothactivation and functional connectivity of the imaginary network. So, try practicing a non-directive form of meditation and allow the mind to wander constructively while stimulating attention.8.Sensitivity: if we think of creativity as a way ofconnecting the dotsin some way, then sensitive people, those with heightened sensitivity to their environment and also heightened sensory experience, such as sound, lighting and perfume, experience a world where there are both more points and more possibilities of connection.Sensitivitycanbebothablessingandacurseleadingtogreater intensity of experienceas well as emotional overwhelm. So,rather than trying to toughen yourself up, you might want to harness your sensitivity through artistic expression.9.Transformadversityintoadvantage:experiencesofloss,struggle, pain,anddefeatcanbepowerfulcatalystsforpersonalgrowth, creativity, and profound transformation.It is often through suffering that we learn compassion, through loss that we learn to understand, and through overcoming struggles that we discover our strength and beauty.Adverse events can force us to re-examine our beliefs and life plans, and therein lies their power and creative potential.After experiencing adversity, the mind actively dismantles old belief systems that no longer hold and create new structures of meaning and identity.To make sense of difficult experiences, try expressive writing, which research shows can alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression,whileimprovingcertaincognitivefunctions,suchas workingmemory,partofshort-termmemory,whichconcerns immediate conscious perceptual and linguistic processing.Interestingly,overwhelminglypositiveevents,especiallythosethat evoke feelings of admiration, wonder, inspiration, and connection to something bigger than yourself, can also encourage creativity. Germain Decelles211"