How be more creative

As a creator it is essential to maintain your individuality. Some people may find your ideas crazy and try to suppress your creativity. Don’t let them rain on your parade. As soon as you start doing as you are told and follow the established rules you will stop being truly creative.

Being unconventional is about being ingenious and inventive. Yes of course be willing to listen, weigh up the risks and keep an open mind – however, don’t be afraid to be different. Be careful that you don’t let others stifle your originality. As the great philosopher Aristotle observed, “There is no great genius without some touch of madness”.

Creativity is an inborn talent of all human beings and one that can also be developed. It is your creativity that makes you distinct and sets you apart from other animals in this world. When you face challenges and you are not able to solve them in a conventional way, you knowingly or unknowingly seek out creative solutions. In fact, in many ways, the more creative you are the more successful you can be.

Here are a few ways you can be more creative :

1. Use your imagination

Your imagination has no boundaries and this is the playground for creativity. Creating space where you can disconnect and shut out external stimulation and impulses can help you to dream up all sorts of ideas. Have a go at putting all your mobile gadgets aside and turning off any music and the television, and just sit for a while in silence. See what comes to your mind and just allow your imagination to take you on a journey of discovery.

2. Exercise your creative muscle

In the 1960s Roger Sperry who was a neuropsychologist and Nobel laureate demonstrated through his split-brain hypothesis that some activities stimulate different sides of the brain. The right side of the brain is the home to emotions, intuition, creativity and art, whereas the left side of the brain is more about logic, language, reasoning and analysis. Creativity however requires a whole-brained approach to be really effective. Nurture both your logical and emotional side by exploring a combination of artistic and analytical activities.

3. Identify your creative time

Chronobiology  is the science of “good timing”  and indicates that personal peak performance is hardwired into your DNA, and this inner clock is embedded inside your brain. The precisely engineered timekeeper is called your circadian pacemaker or biological clock. Keeping a log and working out what time you are at your best for coming up with new ideas is very helpful in knowing when you will produce your most creative work.

4. Mess up your routine

In many ways we are creatures of habit, with so much of what we do being routine. This can get you stuck in a bit of a rut and you will miss opportunities for new stimulation if you are not aware of this. Seeing new things can help to spark new ideas. So messing up your routine and consciously seeking out ways to do things differently by exploring new environments, taking different routes and challenging your daily habits will help fuel your creativity.

5. Commit to life long learning

Adopt a lifelong student mentality and cultivate a growth mind-set. You are never too old or too wise to stop learning. Open your mind and seek out new ways to test yourself. Find people you consider to be experts in a particular field and study them intensely. You can learn so much from reading, learning new languages, watching videos, travelling, and even the simplest conversations. Everyone you meet can teach you a new perspective, if you are interested enough to ask them questions and listen.

Creativity is intelligence having fun

Albert Einstein

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