Creativity is the ability to make exciting ideas or possibilities and bring it into existence.
It is the use of imagination or original ideas to create something new.
For example, when a painter creates a beautiful artwork, it is an example of creativity.
People are motivated to be creative for;
varied and complex stimulation;
communication and values;
solving problems.
To be creative, you must have the ability to view things from a different perspective. Creativity measures the uniqueness of ideas and not just the numbers of ideas generated.
Creative people tend to express unusual thoughts which are interesting and whose perspectives and judgements are insightful.
Let's go a little deeper into what creativity is all about.
It is a pattern of thinking and then producing.
Creativity is a skill that allows you to draw understanding of the world around you, connecting those observations to your existing knowledge and imagining new applications of your knowledge on the world.
If you have ideas but don't act on them, then you are only imaginative but not creative.
Creativity requires passion and commitment.
It is linked to other qualities of thinking such as flexibility, tolerance of unpredictability and the enjoyment of things to be known.
Can you become creative?
Naturally, everyone was born creative and as we grow up we learn to be uncreative. Yet, it is a skill that you can be hone and develop and a process to be managed.
Creativity starts with a foundation of knowledge, learning a discipline and mastering a way of thinking.
"Creativeness is the ability to see relationships where no one exist." Thomas Disch.
How to be more creative.
Take advantage of boring moments.
Being bored creates a room for your mind to wander. You daydream which activates your brains imaginative network. And it has been proven that day dreaming sparks creative thinking and can be lead to a new exciting idea.
Work at a different time.
You tend to be more alert when you're least alert. So if you are a day person, you're likely more creative at night because you'll definitely want to tackle problems when you are at your highest level of focus. More creative problems can actually benefit from aore relaxed mind.
This simple scheduling can help you think differently which can lead to just the creative solution you need.
Take a walk.
This is one of the first ways to boost your creativity and build new ways of thinking.
Taking a walk into a different environment gives you the freedom to day dream which ignites the imagination network.
A change of view can be all you need to think differently about a problem and foster creative thinking.
Do something new outside your zone.
Doing something new builds your creativity muscles and it inspires you. Engaging into something new gives you a different perspective of things which motivates you and makes you more creative.
Follow these simple rules and you will foster a culture of creativity and innovation: These were defined by HP, which in fact started in a garage.
Believe you can change the world.
Work quickly, keep the tools unlocked, work whenever.
Know when to work alone and when to work together.
Share – tools, ideas. Trust your colleagues.
No politics. No bureaucracy. (These are ridiculous in a garage.)
The customer defines a job well done.
Radical ideas are not bad ideas.
Invent different ways of working.
Make a contribution every day. If it doesn’t contribute, it doesn’t leave the garage.
Believe that together we can do anything.
Invent.
-1999 HP Annual Report
In conclusion,
Creativity goes beyond imagining, it's about developing.
And it could come in different forms.
Be it designs, ideas or results.
Most of the things that are interesting, important and human are the results of creativity.
Creativity produces work. Extraordinary works.
Thank you for reading. Let me know what aspect in life you’re most creative at in the comment section.
