Creativity Tips: Creating Ideas - Developing Creativity

Welcome to Creativity Tips - Creating Ideas - Developing Creativity

A lot of people believe that architects , artists and authors are creative people but that they, themselves, are not. Of course, this is untrue. Everybody is creative. It is only a matter of degree. To some it seems creatvity comes easily, to others, not so. So what can we do about becoming more creative?

A dour Scottish philosopher by the name of Thomas Carlisle once said, "That man is most original who can adapt from the greatest number of resources." In plain language, this means: the more information we can draw from, the greater our creativity. Carlisle had observed that those whose backgrounds span a wide range of experience tend to be more creative. So if we want to increase our creativity over time, we need to take on new experiences and new theoretical knowledge. We need to make our lives one long learning session.

How do we do this?

The answer is obvious: we change our careers from time to time; we read widely; we mix with a variety of people instead of only those were familiar with. We choose adventure rather than routine.

Forty years ago I read a statement by a well known British author which took me some what aback. He said that he suspected that writers lose their creative ability as they grow older. My own experience has been that this is not the case. At seventy-four I can sit down and write something creditable on a pretty wide variety of subjects. Morever most of my writing and creativity took place after forty. So creativity and aging have little in common.

What this writer was probable on about is that people generally tend to rest on their laurels, and produce the same sorts of manuscripts after the first one has been a success. In other words, what follows appears to be pretty much a duplicate of many of the ideas they've earlier presented, espousing the same theories and concerns. I would say that this particular writer was not aware of Thomas Carlisle quote.

An idea cannot come to you amidst your thinking. It can only come in that minute fraction of time between thoughts. That is, it comes in the silence. So it behoves us to encourage these moments of silence. In doing so, they will become longer. In becoming longer, there'll be more chance for ideas to come to our personal consciousness.

Where do ideas come from? I have my own views; views that aren't unique to me. You might have heard of Carl Gustav Jung and his theory of a "Collective Unconscious." Whether you have or not is not important. What is important is taking aboard the concept that ideas do not originate only out of your own, personal mind. Think of an ocean of thought, and you as an ice berg floating upon that ocean. The piece of your iceberg above the water is your conscious mind. The piece below is your personal subconscious. But the ocean in which you're floating is also made up of the same stuff you are- water! The only difference between an iceberg and the water on which it floats is temperature. The only difference is one of frequency or wavelength, for all is energy. Ideas are energy

One of the best ways to develop creativity is to simply place a single word on a piece of paper. The word should represent an idea you wish to both cultivate and expand on. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, quiet the verbal-mind chatter. Repeat the word a few times until it is carried into your long-term memory and that all important part of you, your subconscious. Don't try to force anything. To meditate on an idea a state of being "half asleep" is ideal.

Any words that pop up as a result the the silence you've allowed, jot them down. Once you're up and about, it might seem that the word, and your intent concerning that word, are forgotten. No so. The unconscious doing its stuff. At quite unexpected moments it will present you with more words, terse sentences, ideas pertaining to your initial word. Once again, jot 'em down.

A word of warning here: Never fail to respond to an idea when it is presented by saying to yourself something like "I'll write it down later," I can't be bothered now." If you do, your subsconsious will take it that your'e not that interested. After as while it will not respond as willingly to your bidding.

So how do you become more creative? You let your subconscious be your guide

There are many techniques that enhance creativity, many exercises, but nothing enhances creativity better than a burning desire to achieve a goal plus the inner knowing that you have it within you to come up with the ideas to achieve it. This sends the message into the deep waters of that great ocean of the Collective Unconscious where every idea that is, was, and ever will be resides. We never really create an idea. We only receive it. Encourage this reception by providing plenty of opportunity for the creative process to work its magic.

As I said, there are many techniques that enhance creativity, but if you simply follow those few simple instructions provided here, you'll be well on your way to obtaining ideas whenever you really need them. You will have learned... how to become more creative.

I hope you gained something from Creativity Tips - Creating Ideas - Developing Creativity.

Keep smiling,

Tusitala Tom