How to be more creative
What constitutes a creative mind? Research shared in March on verywellmind.com pinpoints some particulars, such as:
• Creative people, while intelligent, also maintain a sense of wonder and curiosity; plus, individuals with creative attributes tend to “look at the world with fresh eyes.”
• Creativity involves a playful spirit and a sense of fun, but also requires hard work.
• Creative people are generally both extroverted and introverted.
• Creative people are often nonconformists with subtle or obvious tendencies toward rebelliousness.
• Creative people are serious and passionate about work, but they welcome objective criticism and constructive encouragement.
• Creative individuals tend to be open and sensitive, which means they are highly susceptible to the rewards of success and accolades for their creativity but also the pains associated with rejection and harsh criticism.
Practice, practice, practice
While some people just possess naturally a creative personality, others might strengthen creative traits by practicing them.
One way individuals can learn their creative bent is by taking an online quiz offered by Dr. Shelley Carson, who received her Ph.D. in psychology from
Harvard University. While there are no wrong answers, the quiz at shelleycarson. com/creative-brain-test presents indicators that are explained in her book, “Your Creative Brain: Seven Steps to Maximize Imagination, Productivity, and Innovation in Your Life.”
“Everyone has a built-in censoring system in their brains that filters thoughts, images, memories and stimuli from the outside world before they reach conscious awareness,” Carson says on her website. “Our censoring system keeps us focused on our current goals and on information that prior learning has taught us is `appropriate.' Learning to loosen up this mental filtering system to allow more novel ideas and stimuli into conscious awareness is one of the biggest challenges for people who don't think of themselves as creative.”
A 2018 column at Inc. com by Christina DesMarais asked business executives their advice for being more creative; ideas included finding time for creativity (writing, thinking, etc.) every day, adopting “a lifelong student mentality” and disconnecting from devices.
In 2016 Matt Mayberry, CEO of Matt Mayberry Enterprises, wrote for Entrepreneur that he does the following to spark imagination: Read something first thing in the morning or last thing at night, journal ideas and feelings, see a movie, create art — including crafting, gardening, decorating, whatever inspires you — and daydream.