Do you remember as a child when nothing was ever in the way of having fun? Creativity was part of our lives. As we age, we are weighed down by responsibilities and our creative side can suffer.
We often think about creativity as making something, but creativity can mean ‘to grow’. When we are creative we feel as if the world and all that is in it is vibrantly alive.
Being creative expands our perceptions and this brings new ways to problem solve and finding ways around road blocks because we see it as an opportunity.
Creativity can be making a meal from whatever is in the cupboard or looking for new ways to use an exercise tool. These are all different ways of exercising your creativity.
Recent studies have shown that creativity is not a single concept. A finding from brain studies has shown that when we are in the generative phase of creation, a part of the brain associated with self becomes engaged and we disconnect from the self-controlling function of our brain. As we evaluate the idea, the self-control function re-engages.
Why does this matter? Disconnecting from the self-controlling function of our brain reduces our inhibitions and we can consider unusual solutions for the problem at hand. Interestingly, different types of meditations can also enhance the different creative centres.
So now that you know why you may want to be more creative, here's 5 tips on how to increase your creativity muscle.
Be emphatic - look at a problem from multiple views. Think of it from your view, from the other person, from a child's view, from a grandparent's view, from a scientist's view, from an economic view etc. Think outside your normal frame of reference.
Be active - feeling stuck? ideas generate when you are moving
Find some time to play - go back to the childhood approach. Maybe keep small blocks or a slinky on your desk to help with creative thought.
Vision board - creating your own vision board, use colour, shapes, pictures to help with focus and seeing ideas across multiple areas
Spend 10 minutes a day day-dreaming, write your dreams in a journal, brainstorm a solution, draw, dance wildly.
If you'd like to know more, book in for a 30-minute free healing consultation session to discuss what might work for you. If you and or someone you know in your network would like to explore coaching or healing, then feel free to pay forward this opportunity!
In love and light,
Fiona