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A young man walks into a hardware store looking to buy a hammer, but they are sold out.
The Shop Keeper: “What did you need the hammer for?”
The Young man: looking to him quizzically: “To hammer in some nails of course. Why else would I want a hammer?”
The Shop Keeper: What were you trying to hammer in with the nails?
The Young man: “Just a shelf.”
The Shop Keeper: “Good” Maybe these will be of use instead – we have a nail-free wall glue in stock as well as free hanging shelves – would either be useful instead?
In a rapidly changing world, we need to boost our creativity to ensure we’re living in the best ways possible.
Creative thinking is not just about art, but also problem solving, with the best possible answers and innovative solutions to choose from.
In this blog post, Artist Chris Pemberton – Author of ‘The Creative Soul’, and TEDx Speaker will share with you his way to boost creative thinking and how to dare to get out of the box.
Creativity starts in our minds, with our neurons firing in unfathomable patterns. The quantum gaps between synapsis is an exciting factor. But ultimately, creativity is no single act or thought; it’s a process of thoughts and actions.
Adopt creative processes as a way of life, because you are truly living when you are creating — shape things in life in ways that excite you.
The value of creative living does not just lie in the creation of new things, but in your ability to bring passion to the things you create.
Then, depending on your level of dedication and commitment, this is the measure through which you can change your life and the world.
“The arts are not just a nice thing to have or to do if there is free time or if one can afford it. Rather, paintings and poetry, music and fashion, design and dialogue, they all define who we are as a people and provide an account of our history for the next generation.”
Taking the time needed to think creatively is a sure way to avoid getting stuck in inevitable mental ruts. Giving your mind the luxury of wandering is a crucial part of the creative process, and specific techniques can be used to guide its wandering into areas of inspiration.
Start scheduling ten minutes everyday to meditate and explore your inner self.
“The idea is to be so saturated with it that there’s no future or past, it’s just an extended present.”
Legendary psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s famous investigations of “optimal experience” have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called ‘flow.’
During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life.
In his famous book, Flow, Csikszentmihalyi describes this inspired state of being where you are so immersed in what you are doing, that everything you do is a constant flow of great actions that result in your best work.
When you are in this flow with activities that drive you, its an invigorating feeling, and one that should be strived for, even if it can’t be achieved on a regular basis.
When you are creating new things, you are working from the inside out, so at least when this inspired state starts happening, you know you are on the right track.
Everyone is different. Some people have the internal creativity thing on lock, but don’t have the drive or focus necessary to activate an idea’s progression, opting to just move on to another idea instead.
Some people are really busy with a lot of focus and ability to follow through and commit to projects, usually following procedures and keeping the general order of the way things are, not typically breaking momentum for new ideas.
Since everyone is unique, it makes sense that there is a great difference in the levels of focus and imagination people use in day-to-day life.
Finding a suitable balance for you between the inventive right and logical left parts of the brain is a way forward. Once you start tapping into your well of endless potential ideas, you will also need to focus on your ability to execute.
How else will those ideas travel into the world so people can benefit?
Let’s throw a stereotype out there and give you an example of a Hippie lifestyle: Imagine you are only using the right side of your brain in life.
You are an incredibly creative and passionate person, a traveler, exploring the world and coming up with lots of original cool stuff, not really using your left, more logical side, of the brain. And because of this, these things you create are, therefore, not being shared widely with the broader community – who are sure to benefit from your experiences.
Studies show that sudden insights cause strong sparks (pulses) in the right side of the brain. Your spark is a unique event in your mind each time.
There are things in this world that have are not realised yet, and only your sparks can put them here. The more you practice and develop your skills with training, reading, collaborating, and through tapping into what intrinsically drives you, the better your contribution to this world could be.
Engaging in the creative process around something you love can help you feel you’re truly engaged with your environment, workmates, and family.
This may mean taking risks and sacrificing some comforts, but why settle for being basic?
Plenty of time to try and get comfortable when you are too old to walk. I’m sure Bronnie Ware, an Australian palliative care nurse, would agree.
Bronnie has counselled many people in their last dying days, developing close relationships with them. Resulting in raw, honest conversations about life and death, including what the patients wished they had done differently.
Her blog ‘The Top Five Regrets of the Dying’ went viral, which then prompted her to write a book about it.
The most common regret of all she says is this: I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
She says, “When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled.
Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.”
Ignorance and Succumbing to fear and worry might mean you miss some of life’s most beautiful opportunities.
Taking the time needed to think creatively is a sure way to avoid getting stuck in inevitable mental ruts.
Start scheduling ten minutes every day to meditate and explore your inner self. here is an easy way to start
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
Engaging in the creative process around something you love can help you feel you’re truly engaged with your environment, workmates, and family.
And make sure that you have the courage to live a life true to yourself, not the life others expected of you.
“There is a genius inside all of us and Goddamn is he creative.”
If you live in Sydney, Come Join me at the Crisp Creative Club. Once a month I open my doors for artist and people just wanting to give something new a go all. Everyone is welcome.
Also my book ‘The Creative Soul‘ is available on Kindle and hard copy here if you want help figuring out what drives you intrinsically.
How to empower yourself to think outside the box and dare to create
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