“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” — Mary Lou Cook
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” —Maya Angelou
Creativity isn’t only for artists and inventors. We are all creative, even if we think we aren’t. It’s a skill that anyone can develop and improve. What is creativity, really? Why is it important? And how can you unlock your creativity?
What is Creativity?
Creativity is the ability to generate novel and valuable ideas or solutions. Creativity shows up in various forms, from scientific discoveries and artistic works to problem-solving in daily life.
We too easily believe some common myths: creativity isn’t just an innate talent, it’s not restricted to the arts and sciences, and it doesn’t require being completely original. Everyone is creative in their own unique way and we can all improve.
The Importance of Creativity
Cultivating creativity enhances problem-solving skills, increases adaptability, and boosts self-expression and confidence. Creativity leads to innovation and helps us do more, faster, better. The wheel and the microchip are two familiar examples. On a broader scale, creativity drives progress in technology, science, and culture, as well as in our daily lives. Innovation shapes our world and our lives.
Unlocking Your Creativity
Psychologists and neuroscientists are uncovering new details about what it means to be creative and how to nurture that skill, reports Kristen Weir in Monitor on Psychology. Here are some creativity-boosting activities based on this research:
1. Practice divergent thinking: Train your mind to generate multiple solutions for a single problem. This flexibility in thinking is at the core of creativity.
2. Embrace curiosity: Explore new topics, ask questions, and seek diverse experiences. The more varied your knowledge and experiences, the more connections your brain can make.
3. Practice purposeful daydreaming: Creativity experts suggest allowing your thoughts to roam freely, while subtly directing them towards the creative task you’re tackling. Research shows that practicing meditation can help cultivate this skill of intentional mind-wandering.
4. Create an invigorating work environment: Minimize distractions and surround yourself with items that inspire you. Your environment can significantly affect your creative output.
5. Use brainstorming techniques: Try methods like mind mapping, freewriting, or the SCAMPER technique to generate ideas.
6. Find inspiration in nature: Spending time outdoors, particularly in wide-open natural settings, widens your perspective, fosters beneficial cognitive meandering, and ignites your creative spark. The natural world offers a powerful catalyst for innovative thinking.
7. Overcome fear of failure: Embrace mistakes as learning opportunities. Remember, many great inventions resulted from “failed” experiments. Don’t let others judge your ideas. Don’t overly criticize your own ideas.
8. Cultivate a growth mindset: Believe in your ability to develop and improve your creative skills. Know that you will become more creative with practice.
Quick, Easy Brainstorming Exercises to Boost Creativity
1. The “30 Circles” challenge: Draw 30 circles and turn them into different objects in 3 minutes. This exercise encourages quick, diverse thinking.
2. “What if” scenarios: Imagine and describe alternate realities. For example, “What if humans could fly?” This helps stretch your imagination.
3. Random word association: Pick a random word and list 20 related ideas in 2 minutes. This exercise promotes rapid idea generation and unconventional connections.
Creativity is not a mystical talent possessed by a select few. It’s a skill that anyone willing to put in the effort can develop and hone. You can unlock more of your creative potential by understanding what creativity is, recognizing its importance, adopting a positive mindset, and regularly practicing techniques to improve.
I have seen this firsthand in my work with students on design thinking projects. Design thinking combines creativity with problem solving to develop innovative solutions for community problems. For example, Gitanjali Rao designed a device to help doctors detect susceptibility to opioid addiction in their patients. Dasia Taylor developed an inexpensive suture thread that changed colors if the sutures became infected after surgery. People who initially think they are not very creative find design thinking ignites their dormant talents. My book Teen Innovators tells the stories of nine innovators and my forthcoming book on design thinking, sub-titled A Guide to Innovation, explains the process step-by-step with new case studies.
Start today by trying one exercise or technique mentioned here to unlock your creativity. Creativity is a journey, a path you choose, not a destination or an ending. Enjoy the process and the exploration. Let go of caring about the outcome. Who knows what amazing ideas you might come up with?
Expressing Creative Freedom photo by Sebastian Voortman and Release photo by Pixabay, both from Pexels.