The Power of the Brain

Are you more scientific or artistic? More right brain or left brain? In a world where we seek identity by putting ourselves into boxes, it is easy to simply say that we “aren’t creative.” We tend to think that if we aren’t involved in a creative profession, or deeply engrossed in a creative activity, that we aren’t creative. We look at artists, interior decorators, writers, and so many other professions, thinking how we could never accomplish what they have. But we must remember that creativity is like any other skill, and without practice, it will never be able to grow. It’s not that we are uncreative, simply that it is a skill we have devoted little time and effort towards cultivating. Creativity is an important skill to master, because it can allow for innovative solutions and problem solving in every type of job.

Roman Krznaric, author of several books about empathy and living, discusses the idea of creativity in his book How Should We Live?: Great Ideas from The Past for Everyday Life. The book is a fascinating read, and can be purchased here if you are interested in reading the book in its entirety. He discusses how in modern times it is even more difficult to try to recapture your internal creativity. He suggests that this is because we compare ourselves to creative idols, like Michelangelo or Van Gogh. Knowing that we can never live up to this prevents us from ever trying to stimulate our creative juices.

Krznaric may have a point, but there are certainly many reasons why enhancing our creativity has been put on the back burner for most of society. We are a society driven by instant gratification and reward, and unless your job requires creativity, creativity simply seems like a nice skill-set. But it certainly doesn’t seem like a necessary one. But at the end of the day, challenging yourself creatively can make you feel just as fulfilled as challenging yourself intellectually or physically. So if you’re looking for ways to bring creativity into your life, try some of our suggestions below!

1. Find creativity in your daily activities. Trying to become creative doesn’t mean you need to sit down and force yourself to paint every day. Instead, there are many ways you can embrace creativity with the tasks you already choose to do. Cooking is a great example: by playing with different ingredients, going off-script from recipes, and experimenting with presentation, you can make something as simple as a salad a new, creative experience. Try putting down the recipe book, and experimenting yourself with flavors you think may suit each other. Similarly, interior design and gardening have great “real world” applications which can test your creativity. Try reupholstering a flea market chair or rearranging your furniture to give your house a new look. Or try creating new floral arrangements in ways you haven’t before. Even if your creations turn out poorly, remember that creativity is a learning process, and even what seems like failure is already turning you into a more creative person.

2. Don’t be afraid of failure or ridicule. Psychologist Abraham Maslow said that true creativity comes when people embrace the feelings and thoughts they have, without fear of others’ reactions. When first trying to harness your creativity, you may feel reluctant to try or say something new. You may fear that your creation will look unattractive, or people will not like your idea. Instead, try to move past this fear, and stay in touch with the creative feelings that are within you. Do not think negatively about your ideas or the products you make. Each one is a stepping stone towards greater success.

3. Go crazy. On this same track, remember that no idea is too crazy. Even if your idea seems completely outlandish or impossible, give it a shot. At the end of the day, creativity comes through the process of learning and trying, not through sorting through a million ideas until you find a flaw with each one of them. And remember, some of the world’s best ideas seemed crazy at first. There is nothing wrong with trying something that seems out of the box.

4. Change your perceptual set. Your perceptual set is the way in which you are biased towards interpreting something. For instance, when someone looks at a pair of scissors, people always see them as a tool for cutting other objects. By sticking to our perceptual set, it is more difficult to see novel ways in which we can use objects. To practice changing your perceptual set, spend some time looking at a common object (for instance, that pair of scissors) and create a list of all the ways in which you could use this object other than the purpose for which it was intended.

5. The more, the merrier. The more ideas you have, the better. The more projects you attempt, the better. Often times, our brains force us to confront the ideas that are in the front of our mind, before we can get to the more complex ones in the back. Whether you are participating in a group conversation, or simply jotting down notes as you brainstorm, make sure you include every idea (even if you know it isn’t good). By writing them down or saying them out loud (instead of keeping them in your head) you will be able to push these ideas to the side and focus on new ideas.

6. Don’t forget that your main goal is creativity. Although more projects and more ideas are helpful, do not simply go through the motions trying to produce the greatest quantity of ideas and projects possible. A study done by psychologists Steven J. Kachelmeier, Bernhard E. Reichert and Michael G. Williamson looked at participants who were instructed to create puzzles. The study demonstrated that when participants were valued  solely on quantity, their creativity suffered, and they created less intricate puzzles. Similarly, when they were analyzed solely on their creativity, the number of puzzles they produced reduced in quantity. This shows us that while we shouldn’t be scared to try new ideas and projects, we should always remember that our goal is to produce something creative. Value your ideas based on their creativity, not just how many projects you can produce.

7. “Leap before you look.” In the book Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, authors Peter Brown, Henry Roediger, and Mark McDaniel talk about a gardener named Bonnie who’s motto is “leap before you look.” Bonnie self-taught herself how to garden, and despite many failures she eventually came to learn what types of plants should be planted where, and what type of care each plant needs. Although a less efficient way to learn, this can be a great way to go about the creative process because it makes the process less overwhelming. Instead of reading countless books and articles to first educate yourself, try going about projects and learning from your mistakes. Many people find this method to be more hands-on, allowing you to start your creative journey on day 1. If you’re interested in reading Make it Stick, you can purchase it here.

Overall, creativity is a noble goal. And with hard work and dedication, you yourself can become creative. Just remember that creativity exists in a wide variety of ways, and you can’t find it without a little hard work and motivation.

Daley, Kristin E. "Taking Care of Your Creativity." The Journal of Museum Education 30.1 (2005): 23-31. Web.

Kachelmeier, Steven J., Bernhard E. Reichert, and Michael G. Williamson. "Measuring and Motivating Quantity, Creativity, or Both." Journal of Accounting Research 46.2 (2008): 341-73. Web.