Creativity: The Secret to Unlocking Your Superpower
I constantly hear people say, "I'm not creative." Or, "It's easy for you. You are creative." This is a flat out lie. Too often we think of creativity as strictly someone who is "artistic." Yet creativity is not limited to the traditional images of painting or writing.
Take a look at the definition: Creativity, the use of imagination or original ideas. With that in mind, everyone I know is creative in one way or another. My friend who tells me she is "not creative" thoughtfully and beautifully decorates her home every Christmas season. Another makes elaborate and delicious home made meals for her family every evening.
I want to challenge the misconception that only artists or innovators can consider themselves creative. Tapping into your "creative space" is the fuel that lights a fire to do more, grow more, learn more and serve more. It encompasses a wide range of activities such as brainstorming innovative ideas for your team, problem-solving for a client, and handling unexpected business setbacks. It is not a gift reserved for a select few. Everyone has access to it.
Creativity is about seeing new possibilities. By shifting our understanding of what it means to be creative, you can start to recognize the creative potential in all of your daily actions from the way you communicate to the way you approach your craft.
The way you plan your day, combining tasks efficiently, reflects a creative approach to time management. These regular activities may seem mundane, but they are driven by an underlying creative process that are often overlooked. By acknowledging and appreciating the creative aspects of your daily routines, you start to see how integral creativity is to problem-solving and innovation in all aspects of life.
The Physical Creative Space: More than Just Aesthetics
I'm a firm believer and practitioner of "less is more." For me, the less clutter, less distractions and less noise I have around me, directly impacts my ability to create.
I could be locked inside of a cell with no plants or aesthetic vibe and still create because for me, that works. Maybe you thrive better in a well-decorated room. But the true value of a creative space goes beyond aesthetics. It's about creating an environment that stimulates your senses and puts you in the right mindset for innovative thinking.
Sometimes the most creative spaces are when you are alone in your car in a focused mindset. Or perhaps you get into a creative flow when you're surrounded by your team who encourage and support one another. You need to be self aware enough to find the environment that stimulates a calm and energized state of mind.
The Mental Creative Space: Cultivating a Thinking Habitat
Just as important (maybe more important) as your physical surroundings, is the mental space you cultivate for creativity. This mental creative space is your internal environment, the mindset you adopt when approaching tasks and challenges.
To enhance this space you must protect it. Start by removing unwanted thoughts and influences. Align yourself with people who encourage creative and innovative thoughts and practices. Listen to podcasts that motivate and challenge you to be better than you are. Embrace curiosity and allow yourself to ask 'what if' questions.
Practices like mindfulness or simply taking regular breaks can help keep your mind fresh and open to new ideas. By nurturing healthy mental habitats, you're setting the stage for creativity to flourish.
Practical Tips For Inspiration
Sometimes you need to step out of your routine and introduce new stimuli to move along creatively. One practical tip is to engage with creative works that inspire you, such as music, art, or literature. This can help to kickstart your own creative process.
Another method is to take breaks and go for walks. Physical movement and a change of scenery can reset your mind and lead to unexpected insights.
Don't underestimate the power of collaboration, either. Bouncing ideas off others can lead to a synergy that enhances creativity. If you're feeling stuck, switch tasks. Working on something else for a while can give your subconscious time to tackle complex problems in the background.
Work with new tools or software that challenges you. Too often we continue to utilize the things we are most comfortable with, the things that get the job done. Yet trying a completely new strategy will force you to overcome frustration and develop new ways of thinking. It could even produce a better outcome than what you are accustomed to.
Embrace constraints. Setting firm boundaries and time restrictions around projects forces creativity in order to complete the task on time. This is one of my personal favorite strategies to force myself to not only create, but complete something even if it isn't perfect. Lastly, keep a notebook or jot down an endless stream of notes on your phone. This collection provides a great source of inspiration to return to time and time again.
So stop believing the lie that you aren't creative and start creating in a way that only you can. The world needs your unique contribution!
My creative space is a small kitchen table and silence.
