Day 7: The McHammer: Try this virtual game for an effortless start to your next creative project

"How to See" is a series where we examine the art of the word "start" like a painting at a museum. What do we see? What do we think of?  Is it a blank canvas? An empty mannequin? A cold sewing machine? Inspiration? Anxiety? A decision? I asked 21 designers and artists from all over the world what it means to them. You'll be surprised what comes up.⁠
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Perhaps it will give us constructive insight on starting our own projects in a way where they stick, help us create action, or form specific steps for each of us to "just do it."

⁠I just did this weird experiment with my Paris creative expat facebook group to see if I could use the famous Word Association Test to find unique and unusual ways to bring clarity, or at least an inventive way to "start" creative projects. Start means a variety of things to many people.

Generally for this series, I interview one designer or artist and we follow the path of what the word 'start' means to them. The chat takes us on a journey from childhood memories or guilty pleasures to deeper meanings behind abstract images.  In the process, we get to know them as more than well-known creatives, but just as humans connecting on another level, sharing common experiences leading them to where they are today.

This time, however, it wasn't an interview. This time, there was no chat and no planning. I logged into Facebook and instead of saying, "hey fellow creative expats..." and trying to think of something witty to post, this idea of playing a 'game' popped in my mind. Why not try something different on a random Tuesday in the virtual world of Paris? Why not start a game thread....with thirty random expats?!

The Paris creative expat group is full of photographers, coaches, illustrators, writers, candle makers and more.  We as creatives tend to have a more difficult time in "just doing it" and need supportive, sometimes inventive ways to get through the tough hurdles and 'start' or restart small projects to grand business ideas. Let's see what arose during the game and what we can digest from it all!

The Game

​This is a 'game' or experiment where the researcher presents a series of words to individual respondents. For each word, participants are instructed to respond with the first word (i.e., associate) that comes to mind. The founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud believed that such responses provided clues to people's personalities (free association). Cognitive psychologists, however, use this procedure to investigate how semantic information is stored in memory.

As you can see, I started with the word 'start', as I usually do and simply asked the community to write the first thing that came to mind, based on the response of the previous person. I checked the post several times during the day and yes, I also participated to keep the flow going. Eighteen minutes went by and no one responded. I thought the group hated the idea! Then...a deluge of responses! We went from 'start' to 'stop' to 'hammer-time' to 'run' and then after about 15 creatives taking turns, we were at 'teacup' and 'snoop'...'pee'!

How did we get here?

Exploring Your Mind, psychology magazine, explains Carl Jung's Word Association Test is based on the idea that your subconscious is sometimes capable of controlling conscious will. Subjects invariably do not have conscious control over their responses. He found that "clusters of ideas, images, and words loaded with much affect (positive or negative) interfered with the ego (as the coordinating agency) by producing unusual responses." Even a single word can unleash past traumas, reveal unresolved internal conflicts or foundlings of happiness. Disclaimer: I should say that as of 2005, the Word Association Test is hardly used in the field of psychiatry, though it is taught in some Jungian training programs and some analysts use it as a technique to enhance the therapeutic process. These days, we think of it more as a game. 

Studies have demonstrated that word associations are almost always based on a word's meaning, as opposed to its physical properties. For example, a typical response to the word KNIFE might be FORK or perhaps SPOON, but not WIFE or LIFE or START and STOP.

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But I argue that there should be another way to conduct and of course interpret this test. Why not base the test on physical properties? or anything else that comes to mind? Let's unfold the results as a creative process ...and in the most literal sense?! Perhaps it will overtly inform us about other parts of ourselves - our habits and in turn solutions to our everyday problems with 'start'.

What does it all mean?

Let's review the first few exchanges: 

"Start"
"Stop"
"Hammer-time!"
"Run"
​"Wait"

Jung says, "those clusters of ideas, images, and words whether positive or negative interfere with the ego (as the coordinating agency) by producing unusual responses." Responses like 'stop' were expected. 'Wait' was clear in its association even though it was further down the list. Others led with more enthusiastic associating words like 'hammer-time' and 'run' with the initial word 'start.'

If we are unpacking these responses in the literal sense, what could we do if we just don't feel like actually starting something? We could simply stop and wait. Maybe it isn't the right time to start for some reason...not the right moment to realize that particular idea? We always think the "just do it" method is always the "right" answer and the "right" time is always now but there are reasons we need to wait on a project.

Have you heard the quote, "sometimes it's logic, not love"? This is what a lot of creatives (cough...yours truly) have a hard time with. It's where a project or business idea arises. It seems so perfect on paper, you assume it has to be the right time. You are lazy to start or finish the initial stages. Why? It meets your skill set perfectly. A colleague who knows you well reccommended you...specifically you for the opportunity. But after a while, you find you aren't "into it."  The circumstances are ideal, so why not now-it's logical? Wait wait.... but is your heart in it? Perhaps, "wait" until you adjust the project or find one until you can be "all in." Wait for when your intuition says to "go." Then, that will be the "right" time to 'just do it'.

"So Tyese, what about the word, "hammer-time?" How can you make literal sense of that?" Well...glad you asked. McHammer is a musical artist known for his energetic movements, flashy dance pants and song called Don't Touch This which included the famous hook, "Hammer Time". I'm not saying you have to dance like MC Hammer or even play his music for an easy 'start'. But we know that dance is an associated example of putting yourself out there, being vulnerable. What else does dance represent? Taking up space...being out of our comfort zone. It is one of the most challenging things for humans but when we do, it doubles back to us reaping rewards.

Vulnerability is not about winning or losing; its having the courage to show up and be seen, when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage."- Brené Brown, Rising Strong

Turn it Around

In exploring the concept, what else makes you feel like the energy of this famous song? Name it. What else brings you joy like that? Do it! Maybe it will help you (cough..I mean me) focus my decision making. Maybe the dance will act as a trigger. Like running,  dance helps to clear your head, allow a point of concentration. Let's try simply playing 10 seconds as a work alarm/break alarm to focus our attention. Perhaps we will avoid waffling back and forth about starting a project, an idea, a task.

Does dancing stress you out? Turn it around and break it down. (That was not supposed to rhyme but it sounded pretty good for a move.) If you feel anxiety around it, it could be fear, worry, judgement and definitively vulnerability knocking at your door. Soooo....one way to get through it is to break it down into micro steps. If it's judgement, for example, while showing your work, maybe a micro-step is simply opening up the website you want to post to. Leave the rest for another day. Maybe the next day you prepare one photo to post. Maybe the following day you research simply one hashtag to associate it with. The next day, do one part of your profile. You get the idea - finally post it. It won't be that overwhelming the next time. Eventually it will be hours, not days that separate each micro task right? That's what I mean by micro-steps - you take on a challenge bit by bit for the start of your 'start.' Eventually you will get there!

​Flip It!

​What if we flipped or substituted the word 'start' with a word or phrase to make you laugh or smile like 'run' or 'Hammer Time? I could see it now. "Are you guys ready to get started on your 6 month goals?" (cue music) Let's "Hammer Time"!  This energetic word encourages more positive feelings around the word "start" acts as a prompt to thrust us into a project, counter negative portrayals and perceptions of 'stop', its most common associated coupling.

​What word prompt would you use? Communication agencies use focus groups to find the right "winning word" to provoke certain actions. I might begin replacing 'start' with something like Pika Pikachu. Don't worry if you don't know this fictional creature, its ok. It's....it's just me. But any one of these words (from the word association game) could be used instead of 'start'.

"Knight":  Imagine yourself as one. 
"Teacup":  Have a cup of one.
"Guarded":  Use the Flip it method to find another more suitable word to associate with 'start.'
"Rock on":  Enough said!

Word usage with other posts in the series

Were there any similarities in word usage with the other artists I interviewed? Not one so far. As you can see from Divinia Fleury, ceramist or from painter Clare Thackway, for example, there is no overlap. They say that words evoke emotions, memories, and thoughts we often tend to ignore. Which words in the game led to memories or feelings for you?

​What an interesting way to unravel the subconscious right? What did you get from this game, besides for the fact that it was fun and a bit of a silly way to past an afternoon during confinement?

What is the first word that comes to your mind when you think of the word 'start'? What can you deduct from it about creating a better start (or restart) for your project this year?