How to be Creative (even when you don’t feel like it.)
Creativity.
kriː.eɪˈt̬ɪv.ə.t̬i/ noun.
It’s everywhere you go these days. From movies to shopping malls, social media posts to blogs even the teenager down the street can be a filmmaker if they get their hands on a camera. It seems like creativity is becoming more and more interwoven into our society. You might be wondering how you can tap into your own passions and find out how to be creative again.
Business & Employment in the Arts states that Nationally, 702,771 businesses are involved in the creation or distribution of the arts, and they employ 2.9 million people.
Because of the surge in technology we are seeing the addition of new creative degrees in universities that allow for students to graduate in fields that were not available just 10 years ago.
But where does that leave those who feel like they aren’t as creative as others? Those that look at the “artsy fartsy” people with curiosity not feeling like they can or should try anything creative. Maybe you are one of those people. Maybe deep down inside you would like to awaken your creative side. Maybe you’re wondering how to be creative but aren’t sure how exactly to do that. Here are a few ideas to think about that might help you learn how to be more creative.
KNOW THAT YOU WERE CREATED TO CREATE
God said that we (humans) were created in His image. That means that we were created with His characteristics. God created this world and everything in it with a thought and then words. Since He is the creator, he made us creators as well. With a thought things can happen.
Do you believe that things can be created with a thought?
It’s a thought that got us on the moon.
It was a thought that cured polio.
It was a thought that harnessed electricity.
It was a thought that got me writing this post you are reading right now.
So if you are doubting your ability to create. Just stop, drop and roll it out of your head. You have it in you because you were made to do it.
REFRAME WHAT YOU THINK CREATIVITY IS
Many times when we think of being creative we limit it to the pure arts like dancing, singing, painting and other fine and performing arts. But creativity is so much more! It’s not something that is specific to one area of life. It can exist in all areas of life in all kinds of ways!
It’s they way that you approach solving problems
It’s the perspective that you have on life
It’s the way that you react to roadblocks
Creativity is by definition “the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination”
Creativity is the ability to go beyond whatever has been and use imagination to create what can be.
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FIND YOUR PASSION
“Art isn’t only a painting. Art is anything that’s creative, passionate, and personal. And great art resonates with the viewer, not only with the creator.” – Seth Godin
Art is made possible through creativity. Creativity flows out of passion. So go on a quest to find out what you are passionate about! Find the thing that energizes you and gets your wheels turning and your imagination humming. It could be anything from music, to dancing around your house, to numbers, to technology.
If you need some help finding your passion here are a few questions you can ask yourself:
What kinds of things did I love to do when I was a child?
What problems in society do I want to see a solution to?
What kinds of things make me feel energized?
What topics could I talk about forever?
Is there something that I naturally do without even thinking about it?
What skills and talents come naturally to me?
What is something that I want to learn more about?
“Art isn’t only a painting. Art is anything that’s creative, passionate, and personal. And great…
DON’T BE AFRAID TO TRY
Creativity is a skill that gets stronger over time. Just like you need to work your muscles out to get stronger you need to work at being creative every day. Start with light creative “weight” before doing the heavy lifting.
Write a few sentences of a poem in a journal
Think of some ideas to solve a problem in your life
Take a basic class in something new
Brainstorm out of the box ideas for a work project
Go outside, lay down and stare at the clouds identifying what shapes you see
Before I leave you I want to make you aware of a few things to put in place for yourself as you work your creative muscle.
Do not judge yourself - critique too soon can squash creativity
Have fun - why do this if it’s not fun, right?
Don’t put pressure on yourself to share what you are creating until you’re ready
Don’t give up -Think of finding creative ideas like turning on an old hose. You have to let the crappy water run out before the good stuff comes.
Get yourself used to working in new areas of your mind every chance you get. Creativity is a beautiful thing because the creative process is so unique to each individual. What works for one person may not work for another. It takes time for each person to develop their own creative methods. But after a while you will get the hang of it!