“Are you a creator?”

I ask this of people, especially youth, when I’m speaking to them at a conference. Always a few hands go up. Then I ask, “who do you see a being creative?” Usually, we hear a big, iconic name, like Apple Computer. They think these brands are what represent “creativity”.

But where does that big creativity originate? It has to start somewhere, no? Everything have to originate from somewhere. So think of creativity that way. Changing how you see creativity is the first step to understanding it’s source. And knowing its source means you can tap into it when you want.

A story that triggers in me the most thoughts about creativity is when I was working on the self-help book I read. In I Can Do It, said if you create a bank account, you are a creator. It sounds simple. But that simplicity made me know that 'we can, if we do'.

Just what you need.

Embracing the simple truth in that simple notion, is just what you need to break any limiting belief inside yourself, or in someone you know who does not believe in themselves. When people break this mental barrier, and just take action, just that one first step, then they can make anything happen.

So, no matter what you believe, you must allow yourself to try. You probably don’t even know how incredibly creative you are. But you’ll never know how much you can do, until you try, try, and try even more.

In the context of our life, we are the creators of our life! Each decision you make right now creates it. Joining me and others who embrace this simple belief and truth. Create a life that to be proud of. Do something right now, that when you look back on it, you will know 'I have done something to move myself forward today one step, and that the best I can do'.

Do what?? 

The creative and generative part of the human brain is best stimulated by a few key activities. Although they may be judged as unimportant, these are absolutely not time-wasting activities. Historically top research and development labs in famous companies like Apple have on teams a mix of artists, designers, scientists, and engineers. Science proves art and design and other cultural humanities activities will stimulate the brain to make new connections, which result in the most profound science, engineering, and even the simplest of social impact innovations.

SOME SCIENTIFIC-PRACTICAL-BASED WAYS TO EMBRACE CREATIVITY:

1. Make something: draw, paint, doodle, watercolor, carve, or sculpt anything

2. Do something physical like exercise, to increase oxygen circulation to your brain

3. Do reflection, meditate, and take some time away from other ‘inputs’ especially media

4. Watch an online video or recorded lecture about a topic you’ve never heard of before

5. Read a fictional novel, poetry, or other creative writing

6. Travel to nature, or travel to a museum, explore a new part of your own city, or go to a new

town or city nearby, to be exposed to diverse lifestyles and cultures.

MY FAVOURITE WAY

My favourite way is to use a simple 3-step technique for generating an idea (adapted from A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Webb Young in 1965 (Waking Lion Press, 2009))

- Stage 1: collect or go out to expose your mind to as much NEW info as possible

- Stage 2: let it sleep. literally, rest up, relax, don’t directly think of solving problems...in fact during rest your brain is making millions of connections automatically to file and sort the new things you just experienced.

- Stage 3: keep a pen and paper or note app handy; write down any ideas that pop in your mind; also have a specific brainstorming session to write down all ideas that come to your mind; take

another rest and circle, sort, and connect ideas that matter most