I did a poll on Instagram at the end of last year asking people if they thought they were creative. It was an interesting response.
About 40 per cent of people did not think they were creative.
The truth is, however, that human beings are creative beings. How else would we have gone from being cavemen and cavewomen to the world that we live in today?
Look at all the incredible things humans have created. Our brains are innovative and we are novelty seekers, that’s why our world is constantly growing and expanding at such a rapid pace.
Being creative doesn’t mean you have to be an artist, it simply means that you are thinking. You are using your mind to imagine, to problem solve, to come up with ideas, to plan and set goals. These are all creative tasks. And how often do we do these things? EVERY SINGLE DAY!
So are you creative? The simple answer is yes. However, some of us are better at all of the above than others, and that’s because those people are using creative thinking more often.
Consistency is key. You have to work out that part of your brain regularly just like you would work out your body 3-4x per week to get stronger and fitter.
The good news is there are a bunch of things you can do to enhance this incredible part of your brain, and I am going to share my favourites with you.
4 Simple Ways to Enhance Creative Thinking
- Practice visualisation and dreaming. This is going to fire up the imagination centre of the brain, the genius of creative thought. To do this you can try meditation, journaling, taking a break and just “being”, or even reading fairy tales.
- Ask yourself “What If?” This is a powerful way to start thinking outside the box. “What would happen if I did it this way instead?” Or “What could I do if an investor gave me $50,000 to improve my product?”
- Be mindful. Mindfulness improves attention and makes it easier to register the novelty and usefulness of ideas. One of my favourite mindfulness practices is getting out into nature and soaking in everything around me. Noticing the sounds, smells, sights, and if it’s a walk I do often I try to spot new things I’ve never seen before.
- Bounce ideas off others. If we are in our own heads all the time, we can get blocked and trapped in one way of thinking. Being open to different perspectives and doing a good ol’ brainstorming sesh with a friend or colleague can bring on that “eureka” moment, which is creative thinking at it’s best.
There you have it! This is all included in your membership at the creative thinking gym. How often will you go?
Lara Franks is a holistic life & creativity coach. Visit her website here and Instagram page here.
