In my last post, I discussed how the key to participating in the new global economy is through pure creativity, which I admit is far from a new concept. In fact, everything that has been, is, or will be brought into being by a person was developed by a creative idea. With that said, it’s clear that our future will be a result of our ideas and very little else.
But how does someone become creative? The answer is simple – you’re born with it. To say that you’re not is to say that you were only born with half a brain. Although I have been led to believe on a number of occasions that it’s a common occurrence, it certainly isn’t. And if you can read this, you have the potential for creativity.
Unfortunately, our old-fashioned upbringing has forced us to pull back from exercises that use this power, and now it sits dormant like a muscle in atrophy. How can we wake this side of our brains up and get it working for us again? A few simple exercises:
1. Start drawing. That’s right, grab a pencil and some paper and get to doodling. It doesn’t matter what you draw, or how well you draw it. Not only does this help wake up your imagination, but it’s also incredible therapeutic and will allow you to see the world in a totally different way. You’ll begin to see textures, patterns, shadows and color in ways that you were never able before. You will also notice that, in time, you will look at life, your career and relationships in a new way, which will allow your imagination to get to work.
2. Set aside time to daydream. To a fault, I love reverie. I love to picture what tomorrow is going to look like for me; I love to imagine traveling to new places. At times, it can be pretty distracting, so I advise that, for your sake, you devote at lease 15 minutes a day to it where you are not involved with other activities. Be it your lunch break, time in the shower, your drive to work (just kidding)- you should set some time aside for it and allow your mind to wander. The motivations and concepts that you can get from these sessions can be massive.
3. Never accept “no”. Ideas, like every other living thing in this world, can die a premature death. The most common cause for this premature death is rejection. A perceived failure should only be cause to re-work that idea and create new plans around that idea. Put it like this: a hundred years ago, if you had foretold the internet, cable television and landing on the moon, you would probably ended up wearing an I-love-me- jacket in a cell where you can no longer corrupt the minds of society. However, here we are, and it all spawned from creative ideas that were rejected many times over.
I’d love to hear of other ways to build your creative brain. Contact me at patrick@imaginedc.net with your ideas.
Great points on creativity. Admittedly, my creative mind works sporadically. Some days I feel very creative, others, not so much. Here are a couple things that work for me.
1) Reading – I feel so energized and creative after reading a book. These books can come in various styles, but when I read, my mind really starts to race with thoughts of “what could be.”
2) Relax – some of the most creative things that I have imagined happen when I’m sitting at Starbucks, with some music, a cup of coffee and a great view. Usually, in a moment like that, creativity seems to blossom.
Admittedly, I’m not the most creative person on the planet. But with your tips, I’m going to try and provide an environment for myself where I can become even more creative. Thanks for the post.
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P.S. Sorry for my bad english