Creativity is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, and there are no specific rules to follow in order to enhance it. That being said, while it eludes one-size-fits-all guidelines, there are still some qualities and mindsets that, when cultivated, will boost your creative thinking powers. These key aspects of creative thinking are the cornerstone for diverging from regular thinking patterns.
Cultivating Curiosity
Curiosity is a fundamental driving force of creative thinking. It begins with asking questions, seeking new experiences, and being open to discovering the unknown. Learning to be inquisitive and turning it into second nature will not only develop critical thinking but also nurture a strong desire to explore, learn, and understand the world around you. Curiosity is the engine of the creative process because it sparks new ideas and inspires innovative solutions. You can’t help but be innovative when you look at things through the lens of curiosity.
Try This Exercise: “A Day of Discovery”
Create a list of specific things, themes, colors, or shapes, and photograph them for an entire day. You can choose a color like “purple” or a shape like “diamond” or an abstract concept like “love.” Photograph everything you come across throughout the day that has the purple color, diamond shape, or represents love. This exercise will help you look at the world around you in a more focused and curious way.
Embracing Intuition
Intuition is crucial in the creative process. It means not relying solely on your experience and the experiences of others, breaking free from logical thinking. In other words, it requires quieting the conscious mind, saturated with familiar knowledge, experiences, and reasoning, forgetting everything you know and turning on the subconscious mind. This is the essence of creative problem-solving. Intuition leads to unconventional solutions that may not be immediately obvious through logical analysis alone.
Try This Exercise: “Blind Contour Drawing”
Train your intuitive mind and learn to trust the process by making a blind contour drawing. Draw an object or scene without looking at your paper. Focus on the contours and shapes of the subject through sensory perception rather than your rational mind. Truly observe and explore the details of what you’re drawing and trust your hand to work its magic. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not satisfied with the initial results. Mastery takes practice, especially when learning to trust your hand without the control of your mind.
Embracing Playfulness
Playfulness is all about experimentation and finding joy in the creative process. It encourages taking risks, making mistakes, and exploring uncharted territories without fear of failure. It’s about creating a relaxed and nonjudgmental environment, which stimulates “outside the box” thinking and openness to unconventional ideas.
Try This Exercise: “Exaggerated Self-Portrait”
In the spirit of playfulness, try drawing an exaggerated self-portrait. Look closely at yourself in the mirror, identify the features and aspects of your character you’d like to highlight, and embrace the playfulness of caricature drawing with exaggerated features.
Harnessing Imagination
The ability to mentally create, manipulate, and visualize ideas, concepts, and scenarios that do not necessarily exist in reality is a massively valuable skill to develop. Imagination provides the raw material for creative expression, whether it’s new products, stories, artwork, or solutions. Creative thinkers harness their imagination to generate a wide range of possibilities.
Try This Exercise: “Stream of Consciousness Drawing”
Start drawing or doodling without a plan. Let your hand move freely and see what emerges on the paper without any specific expectation. Stream of consciousness drawing encourages you to tap into your subconscious mind and let your imagination flow freely onto the paper. By starting without a plan and allowing your hand to move without specific expectations, you are more likely to create spontaneous and imaginative artwork.
These qualities are interrelated and often work together to enhance creative thinking and problem-solving. Creative individuals tend to have a combination of these qualities, which contribute to their ability to generate original and inventive ideas.
Incorporating these elements into your creative journey will unlock your full creative potential, leading to innovative and inspiring outcomes. Embrace curiosity, intuition, playfulness, and imagination, and watch your creative horizons expand.