Unleash Your Creative Self

Why is creativity important in everyday life? Simply put, it is because it makes life infinitely interesting and fulfilling. Creativity is a way of living life that embraces originality and makes unique connections between seemingly disparate ideas. Creativity is about living life as a journey into seeing and communicating the extra-ordinariness of the simplest everyday acts.

“Everything’s already been thought of.” “I don’t even know where to start.” “I’m just not a creative person.” We’ve all had those frustrating moments when we’re expected to come up with a brilliant new idea, but no matter how much we squint at our computer screens, we just can’t seem to think of anything good. That’s when we look over at our peers who are “creative types” and wonder why we didn’t inherit any of those creative genes ourselves.

Can creativity be learned?

The short answer is yes. A study reveals that we are naturally creative and as we grow up we learn to be uncreative. Creativity is a skill that can be developed and a process that can be managed.

Creativity is actually a skill that can be learned.

People often think of creativity as an ingrained feature. There is some truth to this. Some people are, by nature, more creative. However, there are a variety of ways you can bolster your creative side. Established rituals, like journaling, boost creativity. Working on changing your mindset, opening yourself up to new ways of thinking, can also increase your creativity to a great extent. You can also seek support from others. Networking with likeminded people can help you be more creative yourself.

Creativity begins with a foundation of knowledge, learning a discipline, and mastering a way of thinking. You can learn to be creative by experimenting, exploring, questioning assumptions, using imagination and synthesing information. Learning to be creative is akin to learning a sport. It requires practice to develop the right muscles, and a supportive environment in which creativity flourishes.

when creativity dies, start copying

Creativity is a skill that you can work on with time, training, and effort. There are many areas you can focus on to improve your overall creativity. Engage in creative exercises like reading, writing, and listening to music to sharpen your creativity. Learn as much as possible and open yourself up to new ideas and experiences. Make lifestyle changes like walking more, exercising regularly, and getting more sleep to give your brain the boost it needs to increase your creative skills.

Overcoming myths about creativity

Beliefs that only special, talented people are creative, diminish our confidence in our creative abilities. The notion that geniuses such as Shakespeare, Picasso and Mozart were `gifted’ is a myth, according to a study at Exeter University.

In creative problem-solving, a mistake is an experience to learn from, which gives out a valuable information about what to try next. People often pack in their efforts because they are afraid of making mistakes. But if you take no chances and make no mistakes, you fail to learn, let alone doing anything unusual or innovative.

So just go out there and embrace failure. Take on the rejections and keep going. Keep practicing. Soon, thou shalt find thy way!

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou