Who Wants To Be A Creative Genius?

Can You Learn Creativity?

Have you ever watched Robin Williams do a stand-up routine? Could so much creativity and spontaneity result from a highly organized approach? Definitely. Wild and funny thoughts don't come from nowhere. Comedians have habits of mind, and even the most spontaneous ones get better with practice, because they're training their brains to find the humor in situations.

You can do this too. Creativity in all areas can be improved by cultivating the right habits in your mind. You can start training your brain today, with some simple techniques.

Train Your Brain

If you want the mind of a creative inventor, start redesigning everything you see. Imagine a better light bulb, a faster way to serve food, or a better lamp. Do this for three weeks, and it will become a habit. It's also a good way to pass time while driving or waiting for an appointment.

How about systematic creativity in poetry? Write a word on each of 40 cards; 10 verbs, 10 adjectives, 10 nouns and 10 with any words. Shuffle and deal out four cards. Write a 4-line poem using one of the words in each line. My wife has had poems published that were created with this technique. Your mind will begin to find a poetic use for any word if you use this method often.

Would you like to be the person who has something unique to say about any topic? Train your mind to look at things from other perpectives. What would Ghandi say about this? How would a martian view our habits? If a dog (or a cat) could think, would he say about humans?

The point isn't to ask other people silly questions, but to ask yourself, just to see what new ideas they suggest. If you consciously do this for a few weeks, you will do it out of habit thereafter, and you'll always have something interesting to add to a conversation.

Be A Master Problem Solver

You probably have heard of problem solving techniques such as "attributes listing," "assuming the absurd," and using "what if" word lists. If you haven't, you can learn about them at http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com. The point isn't to know them, however, but to use them until they become a part of your habitual thinking process.

Imagine you need a new seating design for restaurants. If you've trained your mind to challenge assumptions (another creative problem solving technique), you automatically begin to ask things like, "Are chair legs necessary?" If the seats were extended from the wall, table, or ceiling, it would be easier to clean under them. Are chairs necessary? Has anyone tried a stand-up cafe? Less space is required.

You won't automaticaly have great ideas, but you'll have enough creative ideas that it is more likely you'll find a useful one. And this "spontaneous" creativity will be the result of your brain training exercise. So why not start developing those creative habits of mind today?

Steve Gillman has been studying brain improvement, concentration, creative problem solving, and related topics for years. Some of what he has discovered can be found on his website: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com, as well as in his free Brain Power Newsletter : http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/Newslette r.html

---

Becoming More Creative -- What We Can Learn From Disney

When you think about the legacies Walt Disney left us,... Read More

Is Your Team Suffering from FWTS?

Who do you know who is feeling stuck, under-performing, or... Read More

Lucid Dreaming: Discover a Whole New World

Did you know that all of your most cherished dreams... Read More

Taking it Step by Step: Combining Intuition, Spiritual Purpose, and Creativity

Something I have always found helpful is taking affirmative action... Read More

You Dont Have To Be An Artist To Be Creative

Imagine that a block of ice has been set on... Read More

Telling It Like It Is (Or Can Be)

When you hear, "tell me a story," does your mind... Read More

The Art of Keeping a Journal

Journal keeping is basically without rules. It is an uncensored... Read More

20 Ways to Keep Your Writing Inspiration and Creativity High

When stressed or blocked it is wise to make a... Read More

I Want To Create...

What would you like to create? A peaceful life, a... Read More

Five Basic Steps to Benefit from Your Creativity

The ability to exercise your creativity is even more important... Read More

Why Teach Thinking? Why Not ?

The word 'creativity' has so many diverse meanings and interpretations.... Read More

Overcoming Artists Block (part 2)

Once you are ready to start working again you will... Read More

Creative Dreams - What Winter Driving Taught Me

We had a winter storm the other day here in... Read More

How To Increase Creativity... Set Deadlines!

Deadlines are something all of us face from time to... Read More

Creativity Isnt Just About Art It Is About Healing

Go on, pick up a pen, hold it in your... Read More

Creativity, Innovation, and Science ? Separate and Distinct or Not?

There is a pervasive belief that creativity and innovation are... Read More

The Power Of Your Intuition

We all have enormous reserves of mental capacity that we... Read More

Creativity and Communication Lessons from Crossing the Street

Spring is in full bloom, which means it's 'get back... Read More

Unlock Your Creative Secret Weapon

It seems like this week a ton of people have... Read More

Computer In The Shop? What Do You Do Now?

Have you ever had one of those days when you... Read More

What Open Stage is Teaching Me About Life

After many years of performing as a vocalist, I switched... Read More

Creativity: Getting Out of the Box

Leadership, especially in times of change, depends increasingly on the... Read More

Creative Thinking versus Critical Thinking

The process of creative thinking is often, mistakenly, intertwined with... Read More

Creativity Management ? Breaking Through The Mental Barrier

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Gift of a Letter

"What cannot letters inspire? They have souls; they can speak;... Read More

Creative Drought

For the past several hours, I've struggled with this week's... Read More

The Elements of Creativity: What-ifs?

What if there is no toilet paper and I am... Read More

Connect with Your Surroundings

Clutter is one of my favourite topics, and I've written... Read More

We Tend To Make Up Our Own Truths: What Stories Are You Making Up?

Someone once said that man keeps looking for truth that... Read More

Take Time To Think

I recently saw a program on television wherein the participants... Read More

Are You A Creative Meathead?

Remember Archie Bunker's description of what a Meathead was on... Read More

Fear & Creativity

My fears are most powerful when they're simmering just under... Read More

Five Steps to Higher Creativity: Engaging the Human Spirit

Unleash Your Creativity! Creativity has often been the misunderstood... Read More