When you think of a creative person, what comes to mind? If you're like most people, you probably think of someone who's Artsy with a capital A – someone who wears eccentric clothing, has an unusual hairstyle and is always doodling in a sketchbook.
For centuries, creativity has been romanticized as this elusive, ethereal trait that only a select few are fortunate enough to possess. And while it's true that some people are more creative than others, the good news is that creativity is a skill that can be cultivated.
While there's nothing wrong with being Artsy, the truth is that creativity isn't limited to people in the arts. In fact, creativity is something that we all have – it just manifests itself in different ways. And contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be "born creative" to be creative. Anyone can learn to be more creative by practicing some simple techniques.
If you're curious about how to boost your own creativity, read on for me to debunk some of the most common myths about creativity.
Myth #1: Only "creative types" are creative.
Fact: As mentioned above, everyone has the ability to be creative – it just manifests itself in different ways. For example, if you're good at problem-solving, you might excel at coming up with new solutions to old problems. Or if you're good at making connections, you might excel at seeing relationships between disparate things. That's still creativity and it not one drop of paint has touched a canvas.
As with most things in life, creativity is not a black-and-white issue. We all have different levels of creativity, and that level can change depending on the situation or task at hand. For example, you might not consider yourself a particularly creative person when it comes to your 9-5 job. But put you in a room with some craft supplies and ask you to come up with a costume for Halloween, and suddenly you're a veritable font of inspiration! The point is that we all have moments where we can be more or less creative, depending on the circumstances.
Myth #2: Creativity is only about coming up with new ideas.
Fact: While generating new ideas is certainly a type of creativity, it's not the only type. There's also something called executive creativity, which is all about taking existing ideas and doing something creative with them. This could involve taking an innovative approach to an old problem or breathing new life into a familiar concept.
Sure, sometimes being creative does mean starting from scratch and coming up with something entirely new. But other times it might mean taking an existing idea or piece of art and putting your own spin on it. For example, adding your own unique twist to a traditional recipe or reimagining a classic piece of literature as though it were set in modern day are both examples of how you can be creative without starting from scratch.
Myth #3: You have to be "in the mood" to be creative.
Fact: A lot of people believe that they can only be creative when they're feeling inspired or "in the mood." But the truth is that creativity doesn't work like that – it doesn't strike randomly like lightning. If you want to be more creative, you need to put in the work and make it happen.
Absolutly sometimes a great idea will pop into your head seemingly out of nowhere. But more often than not, the best ideas come from experiences and trial-and-error and ability to make connections with seemingly random things. If you want to increase your chances of having a lightbulb moment, it helps to put in the hard work ahead of time.
Myth #4: Creativity is messy and chaotic.
Fact: You might associate creativity with chaos because it often seems like successful creatives are making things up as they go along. But while a certain amount of spontaneity is often paired with creativity, the best ideas usually come from careful planning and execution.
Creativity generally does appear when you have a relaxed state of mind so your environment should reflect whatever feels good for you.
Myth #5: Creativity can't be learned – you either have it or you don't.
Fact: This myth is probably the most damaging one of all because it leads people to believe that they're powerless when it comes to cultivating their own creativity. But this couldn't be further from the truth! As we mentioned before, creativity is a skill—and like any other skill, it can be learned and practiced. If you don't feel very creative right now, that's okay—just keep working at it and you'll get there eventually.
As mentioned before, anyone can learn to be more creative by practicing some simple techniques. For example, one effective way to become more creative is by using brainstorming techniques such as mind mapping or reverse brainstorming. By taking some time to learn these techniques and experimenting with them, you can train your brain to think more creatively.
Also there's no such thing as thinking outside the box because there is no box. The only limit to your creativity is your own imagination—so dream big and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Conclusion:
Contrary to popular belief, creativity isn't something that you're either born with or without – it's something that anyone can learn and practice. So if you're curious about how to boost your own creativity, don't be afraid to experiment with some simple techniques and see what works for you! Who knows – you might just surprise yourself with how much more creatively minded you are than you realized!
