A Symbolic and Holistic View of Creativity
The alarm clock rings. Morning has arrived. You wake up, turn it off, and open the window. A ray of morning light streams in.
It is morning.
Yet, unlike the night before—when drowsiness lulled you to sleep after a long, tiring day at work—the sunlight now feels bright and sparkling, instantly lifting your mood even though you’ve just woken up. And in that moment, a wave of emotions arises.
Passion.
Enthusiasm.
Zeal.
Positivity.
“I’ve had enough rest,” you think with energy. “I’m ready to take on the day.”
Even more remarkable—not only are you filled with optimism, but your mind is also flooded with extraordinary ideas. Not just many ideas, but brilliant ones. They truly inspire you.
These aren’t the kind of ideas you could easily produce, even if you had meditated for weeks alone on a mountain. They feel rare—almost divine. Ideas like these could lead to remarkable success. If you’re a content creator, they might become viral masterpieces. If you’re a startup founder, they could propel your venture toward becoming something much greater.
This idea deserves to be developed, refined, designed, and structured. It’s genuinely exciting.
But there’s one problem.
Your time is running out.
Even though you’re a startup founder or a content creator, it’s only your side pursuit. You still have a full-time job. And that job demands that you show up on time.
So what happens to these amazing ideas now, when reality reminds you that you have to rush to work?
And here’s another question.
What if these incredible ideas only ever come in the morning—when you’re most positive and energized—but just as your time is running out, leaving you unable to act on them? At other times, no matter how much you think, meditate, or chase inspiration, nothing seems to appear.
Forced to Shelve Ideas When Time Is Short
We all desperately want to create something.
It’s not for lack of effort. We’ve read countless thought-provoking articles, devoured books on creativity, watched endless “How to Be Creative” videos across social media, and even attended seminars and workshops to sharpen our creative abilities. We’ve tried—truly tried.
And yet, the results arrive in the most unpredictable moment—when we’re short on time.
It’s frustrating, especially when the idea feels like something we’ve been searching for, something we’ve poured our heart into. Why lose it simply because we’re pressed for time?
Of course, the common advice is simple: write it down. Capture it quickly, just enough to remind yourself later. Then, when you have free time, you can return to it and bring it to life.
But in practice, it’s not that easy. The moment we try to revisit it, it feels different. The spark is gone. In our free time, we sit there, staring at our notes, thinking, “What did I really want to do with this?”
This is the root of the problem—being forced to put aside an idea born when we’re pressed for time. Have you ever experienced this?
The Problem Lies in Mood
That’s right.
The root of this issue is mood—our psychological state.
When we look deeper, we find that psychological factors play a major role in creativity, particularly in generating ideas. A positive state of mind encourages inspiration. In contrast, a negative state—fatigue, boredom, stress, worry, or pressure—tends to block the mind’s creative flow.
In Chinese Medicine, psychological factors are also considered essential. Interestingly, this connects directly with the creative process. Creativity depends on the smooth flow of energy—Qi (pronounced “Chee”).
Qi is the vital life force that animates all living things. It sustains our physiological functions and maintains balance and health. Of course, Qi is a profound topic—one we can explore in depth another time.
In Chinese Medicine, the liver governs Qi. One of its main functions is to regulate the flow of this energy. The liver, by nature, prefers smoothness. It despises stagnation.
Isn’t it similar in creativity? When the mind and body flow freely, creativity thrives, and extraordinary ideas emerge. But when we are stagnant or blocked—no matter how hard we try—we simply can’t create.
So according to Chinese Medicine, the key lies in whether our Qi is flowing or obstructed. Smooth flow nurtures creativity. Blocked flow suppresses it.
But what determines whether Qi flows smoothly or becomes stagnant? How does the liver perform its duty to regulate this vital mechanism?
The answer lies in the liver’s other functions—which turn out to be closely related to why our best ideas often come in the morning, just when we’re pressed for time, and not in the quiet hours after work.
Emotions and Blood Storage in the Liver
Besides regulating Qi, the liver has two additional vital functions:
2. Controlling Emotions
In Chinese Medicine, emotions are understood differently from modern psychology. There are seven key emotions—Anger, Joy, Thinking, Sadness, Fear, Surprise, and Melancholy—collectively known as the Seven Emotions. These are normal human responses to the external world. Problems arise only when one or more become excessive, disruptive, or chronic.
3. Storing Blood
The liver also stores blood. It acts like a warehouse. When the body is at rest, and blood demand is low, the liver stores the surplus. Later, when the body needs more—during physical or mental exertion—it draws from this reserve.
These functions are deeply interconnected. Emotional balance depends on adequate blood storage, and blood storage is influenced by emotional stability. Both, in turn, affect the smooth flow of Qi.
How Does This Relate to Creativity?
Now we can see why creativity often peaks in the morning but disappears in the evening.
Morning comes after sleep—a time of rest and restoration. During sleep, the liver stores surplus blood. Upon waking, the body has a full reserve, and emotions are balanced. A good night’s sleep also refreshes the psyche, as if rebooting your entire inner system. In this state, the liver’s functions are optimal, Qi flows freely, and creativity flourishes.
That’s why ideas often appear in the morning. Unfortunately, morning is also when we are most pressed for time—rushing to work—leading us to feel that creativity emerges at precisely the wrong moment.
By contrast, our “free time” usually comes after work. But by then, we’re tired. Physically, mentally, and emotionally drained—especially for those navigating long commutes and city traffic. Fatigue consumes blood and depletes the liver’s stored reserves. As the liver’s blood diminishes, emotional imbalances arise. Have you noticed how easily irritability or impatience surfaces when you’re tired?
When this happens, the liver’s ability to regulate Qi weakens. Qi becomes stagnant. And with stagnation, creativity fades.
So, the real issue isn’t when ideas appear—it’s the condition of the body itself.
So, Creativity Only Occurs When Qi Flows Smoothly?
More precisely, it flows more easily when Qi is smooth.
Of course, no one wakes up every morning with perfect energy or a flawlessly balanced system. But you can observe the difference: compare how effortlessly ideas come when you’re well-rested versus how hard it feels when you’re exhausted.
The key to greater creativity isn’t to chase the “right time” or the “perfect method.”
It’s to cultivate harmony within the body—especially by caring for the liver and ensuring the smooth flow of Qi.
Create Even When It Hurts to Create
“One must still have chaos within oneself to give birth to a dancing star.” — Nietzsche
This insight from Nietzsche might feel particularly relevant when all mainstream methods for enhancing creativity seem to fail.
Stars are not easy to create. Even becoming a “star” in the social media sense is harder than it appears. So many people try, yet only a few truly shine. The process of becoming a star—especially a dancing one—is born from chaos, difficulty, and suffering.
And this is exactly what’s happening now:
When you have an idea, you’re short on time.
When you have time, the idea is gone.
But perhaps—precisely in this tension—lies the sacred moment from which your “dancing star” can be born.
Do you agree?
Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear them.
Disclaimer:
This content offers high-level insights intended to stimulate intellectual discussion. It draws from research and analysis, integrating perspectives from Chinese Medicine and related disciplines. However, it is not a substitute for professional medical, scientific, or clinical advice. Readers are encouraged to engage critically and consult a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner or licensed healthcare professional when appropriate.