Creative Blöks: The Ponderous Complexicator

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Editor’s Note: You run into them everyday, but don’t yet know their names. They are the Denizens of the Creative Hinterlands, and their misguided attempts at helping you only result in stifling your creative flow. Brad introduced us to The Flatfooted Naysayer and The Perfection Fairy in two earlier communiqués. Now he’s back with a new warning: Beware The Ponderous Complexicator!

The Ponderous Complexicator 

The Ponderous Complexicator

This brainy multi-limbed chap has no body to him—just arms surrounding a head! Unfortunately, without a body, the Ponderous Complexicator cannot feel his way through a given challenge. He has no gut reaction, no appreciation of beauty, no sense of adventure. What he has is the safety of reason. So Complexicators crawl along excruciatingly slowly while always trying to ascertain the very best strategy to proceed.

It can be tempting to follow the path of a Pondering Complexicator. They insist that a well-thought out strategy will yield impressive results in any creative endeavor. Their intellect is formidable. And, if you let them, they will lure you into a drawn-out strategic chess game fraught with logical loops and endless, fruitless cul de sacs of inaction. Most of his thinking is about why a particular approach won’t work. Here he shares the attitude of a Flat-footed Naysayer (You can read my outline of Naysayers in a previous blog post) but the Complexicator adds a layer of mental mud that can clog up your gears of creation for a very long time.

You must watch out for the Complexicator particularly at the beginning of any creative project. For the Ponderous Complexicator always attempts to tie up every loose end before starting anything. Sadly, his way of thinking everything through leads to “cerebral cramping” where thoughts collide, causing painful mind knots. I’ve repeatedly found that pure thinking rarely results in quality creative output, and well-conceived strategies prove not nearly as good as making it up as you go along. Creation erupts from beneath the surface in messy, illogical ways.

When you find yourself faced with a Ponderous Complexicator, do not attempt to engage them in polite conversation. Their cerebral banter will likely lead you to feel a bit loopy. Fortunately, their painfully slow movement makes them easy to side step with a courteous, “Good day, sir!”

However, if a Complexicator does render you flummoxed, simply remember the phrase “Just do it.” Jettison your thinking and move into the flow of creation. Trust that your process will provide apt solutions in the nick of time. Adopt an experimental attitude. After all, even cerebral scientists conduct many (many!) experiments just to see what happens. Conduct your experiment and let go of the result. Whatever happens happens. Even the spectacle of crashing and burning is better than a dry, predictable rational result or even worse, the failure to complete the project due to overthinking.

Related species: Flummoxed Simpletonians

Ponderous complexicators stroke their beards and often carry with them chess pieces which they stroke to soothe their mind knots. Complexicators typically accumulate a long list of impressive sounding advanced degrees, like Doctor of Strategeronomy, Chief Executive of Outsmartitude, and Master of Mental Rollercoasting.

  • Elenor says:

    Great one!  I often end up arguing with one for hours before ever beginning anything.  I’ll try your “Good day Sir” escape!

  • Gwen Fu says:

    I”ll be careful now.

  • Guest says:

    Love this!!!!   Great visual with both words and artistry. I can’t wait to share this with my teenagers.  

    Jodi

  • Wynne-Rose clan says:

    Great advice for meeting yet another log jammer on the creative river of life. Thx again and keep more coming our warty!

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