Motivational Article

Creativity is a quality that exists within all of us.
It is not a learned skill or an unusual talent...
It is an attitude that outwardly "creative" people bring to every problem.

For most of us, though, our creative "edge" is regularly dulled by daily routines, rules and regulations.
It becomes easy to rely on the tried-and-true, and we get stuck.
We forget how to think "out-of-the-box". 

We are all born innately creative - just look at young children - but as we grow up, we are bombarded with messages that our creativity is not the "right" kind. "Don't color outside the lines." "No, no, do it this way." "Hold the pencil in your right hand."

When our natural impulses are stifled time and again, we learn to block our creativity as adults. We become inhibited and afraid to try new approaches. We talk ourselves out of doing what feels "right".

Here are some examples of self-talk that smother creativity.
Do any of these sound familiar?

1. It's been done before.
We don't explore an innovative thought or idea because we assume that someone more original or creative has already come up with it.

2. Be realistic.
Instead of letting our imaginations take flight, we stay grounded in the practical and "real".

3. That's too radical.
We negatively characterize the unusual as "extreme" instead of giving it the other meaning of radical: fundamental and profound.

4. It's a good idea, but nobody is ready for it yet.
Rather than thinking that something is "ahead of its time", we need to remember that "the time is now".

5. I just don't like it.
Children say this about food when they haven't tried it yet. Our fear of the unknown causes us to avoid it and assume we won't like it.

6. I don't have time.
This is another avoidance tactic when we are unsure of the outcome. We think that investing effort in creative thought or activity is a waste of time.

7. I need to think about it.
We give ourselves the opportunity to procrastinate. Thinking about something is the surest way to destroy it with negative self-talk!

8. We never do it that way.
This is an excuse to avoid making a mistake. Instead, we should ask, "Why haven't we done it differently?" and "Can we do it better?"

9. Let someone else try it first.
We avoid taking responsibility for a potential mistake, but we also lose the opportunity for personal satisfaction and potential greatness.

To be creative we must accept change as a natural flow of life. We have to risk going beyond the limits of our conditioning. We must refuse to get stuck in the rules of education, society, institutions, etc. We must be willing to make the leap, to make mistakes and recognize the value of that learning process.

Creative problem-solving is a by-product of courage, freedom, spontaneity, and integrity. When the quality of creativity is unleashed, problems become opportunities rather than situations to be feared. 

Creativity is not limited to literature or art or music, although these things are often the manifestation of the creative impulse.

Creativity is basically doing or thinking about things differently or doing different things.

For example, instead of commuting the same way to work every day - once a week take a different route, or take the bus instead of the car. 

Sometimes you just need to pause for a moment and observe your surroundings. Create some physical space. Go for a walk. Sit on a bench. Open your senses to the sights, sounds and smells around you. Try to focus on what's unusual in the usual.

You must also go inside to find creativity. Make a conscious effort to do this several times a day by setting a kitchen timer, your watch or your computer. When the timer beeps, stop. Relax. Breathe. Create some emotional space and stretch your inner self.

When we allow ourselves the freedom to be creative, problems become opportunities, solutions become simple, and relationships become joyous, healthy and fun.