A common issue faced by a majority of the professional and student groups is that they are deemed as “not creative.” At the very onset let me clarify that no one can be so. Every person is born creative. This, we will understand if we observe children. They are considered to be the most creative group. Give them an absurd painting and they can come up with such wide varieties and numbers of guesses that all the adult minds put together can never surpass them! We are born with the gift of creativity, but, it is ourselves who put a limit to that gift of ours. The theory is similar to the evolution theory of Darwin- the body parts that remain unused either shrink in size or else become negated in the next generation. Here, the more we try to mimic the world and restrict ourselves from broader thoughts, our creativity also stops expanding and starts shrinking overcome by the limitations of the world.
An analysis of professionals revealed that about two-thirds or more were above average in creative talent. All the eminent personalities starting from Shakespeare to Bill Gates to Steve Jobs, their creativity is what aided and nourished their growth. It is said that Einstein used to imagine himself as a ray of light travelling through the space, which enabled him to come up with his path-breaking theories. They were all not extraordinarily creative at the beginning, but gradually developed their talent by constant use of it.
Creativity is not “thinking absurd”, but “thinking new”. It is the ability to think different and to think futuristic. We have a tendency to follow a path that has already been paved by someone or else to start a task only after referring to examples. This is what pulls us back from being creative. When we lack models and lack predecessors, it is the time that our creativity works at its best. With no ideas to modify or restrict our mind, our thought process will simply shoot up to its zenith giving birth to innovative thinking.
You can easily build up your own creative power. How? Here are the ways:-
1) Experience and expose yourself to new areas of study and to new methods. Experience the world around you more fully and observe it carefully – Staying updated about new areas of study, new technology, new methods, new ways of life etc. can augment to your thought process when you face the need of an idea. There are many things, many people around us that we see every day but never give any importance to. Observing these details can give you more knowledge as well as new ideas. Ideas are within you and come from what you absorb from the world.
2) Have a purpose, as your mind works best when you have a purpose. A clear vision can assist in the formation of a clear idea.
3) Write down your ideas as soon as you get them. Ideas are most often products of spur of a moment and may easily escape from your memory. Keep a paper and pen nearby. A few scribbling can help unburden your memory. A crammed up mind is hard to be creative.
4) When you think that you have an idea, keep away every other work. When you have an idea your creativity will be at work. Keep away every other wok and concentrate in making use of the creativity that has just been kindled. No one is creative at all times. Make use of the time when you have your creativity at its peak rather than pushing it away hoping to rekindle it later.
5) Never wait to value your ideas as soon as they are born. Creativity can come up with crazy ideas as well, but better to wait before evaluating you thoughts. It may just come in handy.
6) Give yourself a break. Often ideas flow into your mind when you are not thinking about your problem, when you have almost forgotten about it a new idea hits your brain. So give your head a little rest and it’ll never let you down; over heat it and you’ll end up being crazy.
7) Be well aware of your purpose. Narrowing and defining your purpose after gathering maximum facts about it can help in focusing your mind. This will also help in concentrating your creativity on your particular goal and coming up with more focused ideas.
8) Find the drawbacks first. Coming up with creative remedies for the drawbacks is a better option. Finding solution to a given problem will become much easier if the drawbacks are found and rectified first. Then think of innovative plans to improve it.
9) Associate more with children. As mentioned above, children are the most creative group. They have a new way of looking at things and in questioning things. Their curiosity, their wild guess works, their very genuine, but often unsolvable questions, all push our limits into thinking more. There can be no better exercise for your imagination.
10) Engage in rhythmic tasks like knitting, playing instruments, horseback riding, dancing etc. it helps to stir up creativity. Even crossword games or games like chess or Sudoku can help to keep your mind alert for creative ideas.
11) Keep yourself Motivated. Unless you believe that you have the potential to be creative, you are bound to kill your innate creativity.
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