How to be creative?
"Creativity is intelligence having fun."
- Albert Einstein
Creativity is an undervalued asset. To be honest, this is the essence of humanity- to create. Think for once- what makes us different from computers or machines or even animals?
There is always an argument over which is more powerful- intelligence or creativity.
While Albert Einstein vividly preferred imagination over knowledge, there is more to it than it seems so. Imagination per se is nothing but the creation of unreal situations in your mind. You can imagine a man with an extra nipple, and that is all up to you!
How to be creative? Is creativity worth it?
Before answering this question, let me ask you this.
Would you reinvent the wheel or create new uses for the existing wheel?
Undoubtedly, the big wheels were made smaller, and trolley bags came into existence! Even the wheel was created by someone with a rational and creative mind. We cannot imagine our lives now without wheels!
It is quite ironic to state that we are living through someone's creativity. Yet, we fail to value it. Being creative is crossing your boundaries of rationalism.
Computers are faster and error-free in calculations. Human brains cannot be as intelligent as a machine. If that was the case, NASA would be without computers! Give them some data. They will process it and provide you an output within seconds. Computers are way more intelligent than you are. Then why are you aiming for intelligence?
Also, you can google out pretty much everything. Knowledge is easily accessible. When google holds every piece of knowledge that a human being can never, what is your purpose of mugging up information?
Neither Einstein nor Newton discovered any new numbers. They used the same numbers to create theories that now define the laws of nature. You may argue that it was their intelligence. However, it was only their creativity dancing fearlessly.
I will leave up to you to answer if creativity is worth it or not. Either you can turn to other articles on IQ, or you can continue reading to find out how to be creative.
How to be creative? Ways to unleash your creative potential.
Think divergent or out of the box.
What do I mean by thinking divergent? Children have awesome creativity that gets hampered as they grow up into adults. People fear and laugh at what they cannot understand.
Thinking out of the box does not mean thinking out of your mind. It means getting out of the small pit of rationality and explore possibilities that may or may not sound irrational.
People like Dr. Seuss and Walt Disney always dared to think like a child. Dr. Seuss was almost about to burn his manuscript after being rejected for the twenty-seventh time. Walt Disney was over his 300th rejection.
Divergent thinking involves thinking beyond what your rational mind can explain. The most creative people of the world always faced rejections. Their creations were inexplicable. That made them beautiful. Imagine that you only need a broom to fly!
Don't fear your absurd thoughts.
As you grow up, you tend to fall for social approval. You start distinguishing between right and wrong, good and evil and start thinking in terms of society. Whatever you do is in harmony with societal beliefs and aspirations.
Do not suppress your creativity. You might have designed an abstract art or discovered a new dance move. The next step is to give them life irrespective of how your friends or your family will think about you.
You have to be crazy. Let me quote what Steve Jobs said in the iconic Think Different Apple commercial in 1997.
"Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."
— Steve Jobs, 1997
Be playful with your art.
Whatever you are doing, you can be creative with it. Even while performing a dull, repetitive task, you can think of creative ways to enjoy it.
You can pick up a notebook and some markers and start sketching. Once again, like a child, you can learn to paint with your hands. You can do hilarious things to your heart's content!
Drawing or painting actually increases your creativity to a great extent. It is scientifically proven certain areas of the brain get activated that cater to creative thinking. It takes the heart of a child to create the most beautiful art.
Being playful will help you get creative.
Do nothing
Yes, I am serious! You are so busy that you even lack time to sit down for a while, not thinking about anything.
Before you go to sleep, you can practice being creative. That is the time when you do not do anything except lying on a bed. Keep your phones aside and let your brain rain down thoughts.
You can also go for a walk or talk with your friend over a phone call and share your creative thoughts. Share them with somebody who wants to be or is a creative person.
Doing nothing simply means not focusing on any of your rational thoughts and let your brain do the work. A great majority of splendid ideas popped up when people got bored or when people did nothing.
When you are bored, your brain daydreams. Your brain seeks some entertainment during those moments of boredom. That is also a time when you can pay attention closely to your thoughts. Your brain will launch creative thoughts!
Creativity requires practice. Rome was not built in a day. The more you try to get creative, the better you will be at it. However, you need to be fearless. People laugh at what they do not understand.
Do not throw your creativity into a dustbin.
0 Comments