5 Keys to Being More Creative

The great painter Vincent van Gogh said, “If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced”. Unfortunately, as we get older, we tend to listen to that voice more and more. This is why we decided to share some keys to being more creative. 

Many confuse creativity with the ability to express yourself in an artistic way. However, creative thinking is much more complex. It’s more than being able to paint or design buildings.

What is creativity?

According to Webster’s Dictionary, creativity is the ability to produce something from nothing. This dictionary also defines it as the creation or establishment of something for the first time. Similarly, we can refer to it as giving life or giving birth to something in a figurative sense.

However, this definition is limited. Creativity is also being able to find different solutions to any type of problem. 

But many people don’t consider that as being creative. Some people don’t believe that they can come up with ideas that might change the world. But the truth is that creativity is not just a talent but something that can be taught and improved upon.

Keys to being more creative

To better understand the keys to being more creative, let’s go to the experts. Let’s look at two people who use this skill as their greatest weapon: Juliana Garcia and German Ferruncho of the famous advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather. What do they think you should do to avoid the fear of creating?

Understanding creativity

To better understand creativity, they give us an example. They compare creativity to electricity. If we have electricity, we have light. If not, then we don’t. It’s the same with creativity. If it’s there, everything flows and evolves. If not, everything stays the same. 

Imagine if a human being never thought to use a wheel to make transportation easier. What would the world be like today without that invention? That is true creativity!

Creativity is not exclusive

As we mentioned in the beginning, creativity doesn’t just apply to artists. A creative person can find ways to make anything more comfortable or even fun! A very simple example of something we can apply creativity to is to our morning greetings. What would happen if you never said hello the same way? Such a small gesture can make your day dynamic.

This is what can happen with everything you do. If you change your hairstyle, people will look at you differently. If you wear flashy clothes, the same thing happens. In other words, simply changing your daily routine makes you more creative. It’s as simple as that.

Let your ideas flow

Brainstorming is a fundamental tool for creative people. Let your thoughts flow and turn them into ideas. This is a spectacular way to find creative inspiration.

Creativity can be learned

Obviously, some people are more creative than others. Just as there are people with more intellectual capacity or better spatial thinking, some are more creative. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t train yourself to be more creative in whatever field you choose.

You have to think of your imagination as a muscle. You need to exercise it daily. If you break out of your usual routine and thought patterns, the world becomes a more inspiring and fun place.

Think out of the box

We grow up in specific cultural environments. We adopt traditions, religion, customs, and certain ideologies. All of this can lead to complacency and prevent us from leaving our comfort zone.

If you think of the world in a rigid way, you’ll hardly be creative. You must be careful with the thoughts or beliefs that “bind” you. They will keep you trapped in repetition and comfort.

Never say I can’t. If you don’t try, you certainly won’t accomplish anything. These keys to being more creative can help you discover new ways of thinking. This can help you find solutions to any problem. And the solutions may be things that no one ever thought possible.