Becoming More Creative

By William Larson, Ph.D.

“My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz. It’s the letter I use to spell yuzz-a-ma-tuzz. You’ll be sort of surprised what there is to be found once you go beyond ‘Z’ and start poking around!” ~ Dr. Seuss

Creativity gets better and better with practice. The more you “poke around” beyond z, the more fascinating and successful your life will become.

Here are some simple techniques that will help you improve your creativity skills:

1) Be open to new ideas. Creativity requires that you be open to ideas and concepts that are new even if they seem impossible. Do not simply dismiss what you do not understand. There is no better way to open your mind to new ideas than to try a new task, learn a new skill, or begin a new hobby. You will be amazed at how doing something new will open your mind to new ideas. Suddenly new worlds will open for you.

2) Be inquisitive. Extremely successful people are always asking questions and seeking answers about better ways of doing things. Curiosity is a way of life for them; it is the hallmark of their success. They are never convinced that anything is as good as it gets. They always believe there is a better, faster, safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of doing things. Never stop being inquisitive.

Revive your childhood curiosity. Never be afraid of asking questions.

Next time you think one of your questions is “silly,” remember the questions asked by these creative geniuses:

Leonardo DaVinci once asked, “Why does the thunder last a longer time than that which causes it?” and “Why is the sky blue?”

Socrates asked, “What is beauty?”

Albert Einstein in his youth asked himself, “What would it be like to run beside a beam of light at the speed of light?”

Just think of the inventions that have benefited humanity in countless ways. Most of them came into being because someone answered the simple question, “What if . . . ”

3) Learn to think illogically. Thinking things through logically is something each of us has learned to do. This is how we “process” information in order to make sound, rational decisions.

It is a process however, that excludes creativity. Choose any idea (whether it is yours or someone else’s), no matter how illogical it may seem, and begin to think of ways that the impossible might actually happen. Connect ideas and see where it takes you.

4) Spend time with creative people. You will soon discover that the most consistently creative are children, especially the ones who have been given a box of crayons but have not yet been told to color within the lines. Their imaginations run wild. They can teach you a priceless lesson: how to think “out-of-the-box.”

5) Quit trying to be perfect. You will never achieve perfection on the earth anyway. There is nothing as inhibiting to creativity as perfectionism. Imperfection is human. Learn to become uninhibited by concern for doing something that is correct. Creativity flourishes in an atmosphere of unconditional acceptance.

6) Be open. Do not judge creative ideas that come your way no matter how “silly” or “obvious” they may initially seem. Creativity thrives in people with nonjudgmental attitudes. Creative people are tolerant of ambiguity, do not impose boundaries on ideas, and take risks in order to achieve great results.

7) Sleep improves creativity. In a recent sleep deprivation study conducted by the Sleep Research Laboratory or Loughborough University in Loughborough, UK, scientists using clinically oriented neuropsychological tests found that lack of sleep has a significant impact on creativity. As little as one night of sleep loss has a major affect on innovative thinking and flexible decision-making. Remember what your mother taught you and get a good night’s sleep.

Never stop thinking of yourself as creative. Think positively about the fact that you are creative, and that you are becoming even more creative every day. Remember, creativity is learned. The more you learn about it, the more you practice it, the more creative you will become.

Never forget that you have the right to be creative because you were made in the image of God, the Creator of heaven and earth.

Do you think you have an idea for a best-selling book? Do you need help making your idea become a reality? I ghostwrite books for the famous, and the unknown.

For a free evaluation of your idea, contact me at: http://TheWordDoc.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Larson,_Ph.D.