Getting More Creative Is An Achievable Goal

Einstein, Picasso, Stravinsky, Freud, Eliot, Graham, Gandhi. The greatest achievements in all human history are all products of creativity. Seeing loose threads that others do not see… Ask questions and give answers that no one else has. And that’s exactly why so many people are interested in how to get more creative.

Creativity is a process, a personality trait, and also a product that belongs to a specific context or field. People who create creative things (products), had a certain way of doing it (their processes), and they acted in a certain way (their personality traits).

To become more creative, some researchers say that it is a prerequisite to have technical skills and knowledge for your field (the subject or place where you do your creative work). You also need to be highly motivated to do what you are supposed to do. And finally, you need certain skills, such as flexible thinking and the ability to use heuristics (mental shortcuts) well.

How can I get more creative?

If you use it correctly, creativity is a skill that will help you adapt better to different situations in life. So here are some attitudes and techniques to awaken, cultivate and increase your creativity.

• Break out of your routine : try to get away from monotony, let go of some repetitive habits and challenge yourself to do things you have never done before.
• Internalize : be as aware of your insecurities and fears as you are on your strengths, change perspective, try to be a different person…
• Seek knowledge and inspiration : read about things you find interesting, explore the lives of creative people, try things, go to new places, ask yourself new questions…

• Bring your imagination to life : visualize new scenarios and try to play out how they go.
• Create inspiring situations : get out of your comfort zone, risk making mistakes and find new stimuli (books, movies, people, paintings…).
• Take advantage of relaxation time : look for time to rest, daydream and play.

Techniques to get more creative

Here are some of the most popular techniques for learning to be more creative.

• Robert W. Olsen’s DO IT method : A structured process for problem solving.
• The SCAMPER method created by Bob Eberlee : A technique for promoting creativity and creative thinking.
• The 3-6-5 method : A simple technique that involves working with other people.

• The mental map method : A very effective method for summarizing information and expressing ideas logically and creatively.

4 tools you need to come up with creative solutions

According to Guilford, these are the most important skills and tools you need to solve problems creatively:

• Flexibility : it has been shown that the more ideas you come up with, the more likely you are to come up with a good solution. So brainstorming is a good example of a problem-solving tool.
• Flexibility : being flexible in your mind helps you change your ideas and move you closer to the solution to a particular problem or challenge. Specifically, there is a group of creative tools known as “verbal verification lists” that will help you be innovative.

• Originality : this means breaking out of the routine and going beyond the obvious answers. Image-based stimulation, photographic field trips and object-based stimulation are very well-known techniques for coming up with original ideas. You can also use analogies and metaphors.
• Production : This is about building and finding alternatives. It is a convergent process that you do after you do a divergent process. For example, mental mapping is a visual and verbal tool you can use to connect ideas, thoughts, objects, etc.

We are more creative in extreme situations. And the most creative people are really quick problem solvers. Now that you have some tools in your creativity toolbox, use them to improve your quality of life. This is especially true for people who are going through tough times in their lives.

Long ago, creativity was seen as a trait that only an occasional artist or researcher had. But today, saying you’re not creative is like saying you just did not put it into practice.

According to Ken Robinson , we all have talents, we just have to know where to look. Would Steven Spielberg be a math genius if he had focused on that instead of film? Challenge yourself to get more creative. If you do, get ready for a wonderful journey that will definitely be worth it.