Many people believe that creativity is an intrinsic trait that you are born with, and that only a small percentage of the population possesses it. We normally think of figures like Rembrandt, Vincent Van Gogh, Jane Austen, and Albert Einstein when we talk of creativity, as if their names are synonymous to it. But the truth is that creativity is more of a learned skill than an inherent gift. Sure, creative people make it appear difficult to be as innovative and competent as they are sometimes. The key to creativity, though, is practice, patience, perseverance, commitment, and even more practice. You should devote more time and effort to it if you want those creative fluids to run through your veins. While this might be difficult to acquire, the reality is that with consistency and persistence, you can achieve high levels of creativity. Fortunately, everyone, even you, can be creative with the right attitude and a positive mindset. Do you wanna know the secret on how to be creative? Continue reading this article to give you a jumpstart to creativity!
Being creative is similar to getting in shape physically: the basic aim is to be fit, robust, and healthy; it's not a one-size-fits-all situation, but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of methods to get there. Furthermore, it needs discipline and patience, just like being physically strong and healthy. For most people, creativity appears to be valuable for simply making arts and crafts but the reality is that this skill is so much more than that. It also provides you with a series of benefits in everyday life since it allows you to apply your problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills, which are the three components of creativity, imagination, and inventiveness. How can you be as creative as the great minds that we know who shaped culture and history? Find out more by reading further.
Daily Dose of Challenge to Jumpstart Your Creativity
One of the methods on how to be creative is finding ways to challenge and inspire yourself on a daily basis. Many people want to enhance their creativity but they are often found to utter the excuse that “they’re not the arts and crafts type of person.” So, here’s the challenge to yourself: set aside 30 minutes or so from your everyday schedule to explore or create something. Let your mind wander, even at the comfort of your home.
You must spend time making something or exploring around you in order for your thoughts to spark the creativity within you waiting to flourish. This will not only entertain your mind, but it will also allow your brain to "relax" from accomplishing too many at work or school and absorbing too much knowledge from the stress of the outside world. It makes no difference what you produce; a painting, sketch, taking photos, clay sculpting, writing poetry, making crafts, and so on are all beneficial to your brain. You can also explore virtual museum tours, watch documentaries, art tutorials, masterclasses, etc. The sheer act of releasing energy and engaging in a soothing creative activity stimulates your cognitive ability and brain function.
How to Be Creative
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Think outside the box:
Don’t just stick to your comfort zone and dwell in the norm, try to do something new for the sake of creativity and imagination. In order to be the creative person that you aspire yourself to be, you must be willing to look at things from several angles. Don't get too hung up on a single style or technique you discovered. Don't just stick with the trend. For example, if you're painting, don't stick to the style you were taught. Learn the rules at first, but then, teach yourself to bend and break the rules to your advantage. You may try adding new twists to it or improving it for the better. You will produce better works if you create the habit of being open.
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Learn that mistakes are great teachers to help you discover new things and improve at the same time:
If there is one important lesson we can learn as we grow older, it is that mistakes are the key to learning. Leverage your mistakes. It’s okay to fail as long as you stand up and learn from it, remember that. This may sound quite cliche but an infant will never learn to walk until he or she stumbles a few times, and the same is true in life. This isn't an excuse to be irresponsible all the time, however, but rather to utilize errors as a learning tool for new experiences. All we have to do is benefit from our mistakes, get right back with new confidence and self-esteem, and try once more.
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Be unique:
Never go with the flow and copy things around you. Yes, you can get inspired by a lot of things and use it as a reference for your creativity but at the same time, do not be afraid to show yourself and be unique. Everything you sketch, create, or paint must have a personal touch to it. Make a name for yourself by the virtue of what you do. For example, you may blend two creative mediums into one in such a manner that no one else can replicate but you. This allows you to be more creative even with limited materials, budget, or resources. When you add a personal element to your creation, the viewer is less likely to focus on the method and more likely to focus on the art and the artist, second.
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Keep an art journal with you:
This may be a creative journal as well as a diary where you can also record your ideas; it's all up to you. You can incorporate newspaper and magazine clippings, foraged dried flowers, polaroid photographs, negative films, ephemerals, and other mementos can be pasted here to help you produce additional ideas, to keep you stay motivated and create new things.
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Capture the world around you:
Staying motivated is one of the secrets to being creative. Where can I find inspiration? By looking at the world in a manner you've never looked at before. Change your viewpoint and go outdoors to collect souvenirs from different places, including inside your local area, even simple yet beautiful flowers would suffice, and press them in a book to create something for your scrapbook or diary! You may even produce art out of ordinary household goods by photographing them, like Andy Warhol did in his Pop Art where he turned regular objects into art. And how may it aid in the development of your creativity? It essentially demonstrates that the universe is artistic and art-like.