In the back-and-forth world of screens, meetings, and deliverables, an oasis of creativity is what daring pioneers in every field continuously pursue. As Steve Jobs once remarked, “the doers are the major thinkers. The people that really create the things that change this industry are both the thinker-doer in one person”. So, how exactly do we unlock this creativity, the thinking-doing powerhouse that turns ordinary into innovative?
Finding Your Zone
Our minds are congruent with nature. Just as a garden needs to be nurtured for plants to thrive, your mind needs the proper ground to bring creativity and innovation to life.
Firstly, identify your creative space. An external environment that is comforting and free of distractions can help stimulate creativity and ideation. Some people discover their inspiration in bustling environments like coffee shops, while others prefer the tranquility of a secluded room. The goal is to find your personalised “mental sanctuary”, a space where ideas flow freely with ease and finesse.
Becoming a Curious Learner
Remain endlessly curious. Leonardo da Vinci, who was not only a profound artist but also a prodigious inventor, once mentioned, “I roamed the countryside searching for answers to things I did not understand”. Three keys to embracing curiosity and learning are:
1. Be Observant: Pay attention to your surroundings, the people you meet and experiences you have.
2. Ask Questions: Be relentless in your pursuit for answers, no matter how frivolous the question may seem.
3. Immerse Yourself: Step out of your comfort zone and lose yourself in new experiences and environments.
Embracing Psychological Safety
At the heart of every innovative organization is a culture that encourages free-thinking. This involves a psychological safety net that allows employees to voice their thoughts and ideas without fear of repercussions or judgement. Hence, it is essential to seek environments that endorse such safety or to create spaces ourselves where we permit our minds to wander, ponder, and ideate.
Adopting Holistic Well-being
Prolonged periods of stress and anxiety can stall our creative journey. Rather, fostering holistic well-being by taking care of our physical health, managing stress through mindfulness, obtaining sufficient rest, and maintaining a balanced diet can provide the right neurophysiological conditions for creativity to flourish.
The Power of Resilience
Finally, creativity is not a eureka moment, but a stringent process that often involves failure, rejection, and disappointment. However, true creativity requires resilience. As Thomas Edison stated, “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”.
In the end, unlocking creativity is about letting go – shedding the fear of failure, embracing the thrill of exploration, and introducing yourself to your inner genius. As we nurture our mental sanctuaries for creativity, we take a step closer to a world that emanates innovation. Be it in art, technology, or any field for that matter, the power to revolutionize lies within your ability to unlock that creativity.
Are you ready to find your key?
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