Instant Creativity for Anyone! - Singapore's Online Community

**qing02051981** · 29-02-2008, 08:56 AM

Do you believe that spontaneous creativity is a talent that only a handful of us possess?

Well, most people do, and they're quite mistaken - the truth is, all of us are capable of unleashing a steady flow of creative ideas. If you have a brain, then that's all you need! Your brain is a muscle, and like all muscles, needs to be exercised regularly to keep it in fine form.

Here's a simple fitness routine for your brain:

First, always be ready to soak up information. Read, listen to, and watch what you can, even things that initially do not interest you. Your mind is able to absorb much more than you may imagine and all this information is sure to be useful in future. Also, the more you know, the more likely you'll want to know more... your natural sense of wonder will seek more and more knowledge.

And don't worry about not being to remember everything. Much of this information will not be top-of-mind but you can trust your brain to fish it out of the depths when you need it. Also, you don't necessarily have to commit everything to memory - when you come across something interesting, clip it and keep it! Maintain a scrapbook, electronic or otherwise, full of articles, pictures, quotes, and so on that you can use to invigorate your creativity later.

Next, consistently engage in creative activities. What are creative activities? Well, anything that gives your grey matter a little nudge and jiggle - writing, taking photographs, trying out new words, new ways of doing things, journaling, poetry, even doodling! Just don't let your mind remain idle for too long.

And try something new every day! Don't stick to the usual, tried and tested, well-trodden path. Explore a new part of your city, spend an afternoon in a museum, chat with a stranger. Open up to new experiences around you!

Finally, don't be afraid to be a little crazy. The great thinkers and innovators of history of all been thought to be mad at some point in their lives. Well, some of them probably were clinically insane, but that doesn't change the fact that their ideas were new and exciting and probably of much potential use to humankind. So be a little abnormal, step out of rhythm for a while, see things from the most absurd vantage point you can think of. Who knows... creativity might just be sparked!

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