It’s something we all want… the ability to be creative in every moment. To have brilliant ideas and innovative approaches 24/7. And most importantly, to have the ability to birth those ideas into reality.
It’s understood that the creative process is distinct from the thinking process. What isn’t so well known is why? Why is it the best ideas come right when you’re about to fall asleep? Or when you leave your desk and the impending deadline of an essay to get any form of sugar and BOOM… the magic of creativity strikes with full force.
I’m not supposing to know all the answers here. What I do know however is some of the most creative people in history have used these five simple principles to tap the treasure trove of their creativity and amplify its flow.
Let your mind wander.
“I never made one of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking.” Albert Einstein
You know it’s highly beneficial to take your body (and dog/s) for a walk… but what about letting your mind go for a wander? The best creative thinking happens when you allow yourself to explore the full depth of your mind, instead of staying on the surface of ‘what is’. Making time to relax, daydream, play or stare at the sky is actually a very productive thing to do and the delicious gateway to creativity.
Fail forwards.
“I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.” Steve Jobs
Being creative takes balls. It’s about being willing to make mistakes and push the boundaries. The difference between highly creative people and the average Joe is creatives see opportunity in every situation – both good and bad. They are resilient, adaptable and willing to go back to square one with fresh eyes. They know there’s no such thing as a fatal mistake… everything is research and experimentation.
People watch.
“Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.” Pablo Picasso
Creative flow happens in the moments you let go… when you release the grip of rational, linear thinking and fall back into a state of observation. Creativity emerges from necessity and a great way to tap into that flow is through people watching. Observing the way in which humans interact, their tendencies, preferences and subtle nuances can provide a huge amount of data about the ‘need of the time’. Tap into the life of others and watch the creative juice spill over.
Surround yourself with great like-minded people.
“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” Eleanor Roosevelt
Being creative is one thing… manifesting those brilliant ideas into reality is a whole other level. It can be a daunting task to stay with an idea as you birth it into physicality. You may be making mistakes (aka. experimenting with solutions) and feel as if nothing is working. Don’t give up. This is where surrounding yourself with wise, experienced and creative people can help. Learn from their experiences, ask questions and observe the way they do things. This is the importance of a tribe.
Meditate.
“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” Carl Jung
All the things above are a natural byproduct of daily meditation. It’s only when you can step beyond your mind, intellect and rational thinking that creativity spontaneously emerges. Meditation is a way of going beyond the surface of your mind and tapping that inner reservoir of infinite creativity, energy and coherence. Want creativity on tap? Meditate every day.