| This article challenges the traditional meaning of | | | | Step 2: Expand your horizons. Creativity doesn't usually |
| creativity and presents a 5 step process to unlock a | | | | arise from the familiar. Imagination sometimes requires |
| person's creative side As an avid crafter, I often give | | | | us to expand our horizons to get kick started if we |
| handmade presents to those among my family and | | | | haven't ventured out for a while. Some things that |
| friends who appreciate this type of gift. For her | | | | have worked for my clients include the following: Visit |
| birthday last year, I gave my best friend an amethyst | | | | a different place. It could be a new town, country or |
| necklace, bracelet and earring set. She loved it but | | | | even a shop or restaurant you don't normally patronize. |
| responded as so many people do with a | | | | Read magazines or books on topics that you wouldn't |
| self-deprecating compliment: "You're so talented. I could | | | | normally pick up. If you usually read "People" or |
| never be that creative." This statement just kills me. | | | | "Vogue", try reading a fishing magazine or one about |
| This is the same woman who juggles a career as a | | | | politics and vice-versa. Keep in mind that it is not about |
| kindergarten teacher with her roles as a mother of | | | | converting you to another point of view or hobby; it's |
| three and supportive wife of an entrepreneur. Although | | | | about you trying to see the world through different |
| she is far from wealthy, just about anyone who visits | | | | eyes. |
| her home leaves it raving about how gorgeous it is | | | | Learn something new. Take a class or teach yourself |
| and how envious they are for her flair for interior | | | | a new skill. Again, this is a way of stimulating your |
| design. And yet, she thinks that she is not creative!I've | | | | imagination and has the side benefit of being a great |
| come to think that many of us grow up with a narrow | | | | confidence builder. |
| view of the meaning of creativity. We are taught that | | | | Saturate your senses. Experimenting with different |
| you are creative if you were good at writing stories or | | | | tastes and scents through new foods, playing with |
| if you excelled at drawing or painting in art class. | | | | fabric of different colors and textures or listening to |
| True creativity, to my mind, though is better defined as | | | | music you wouldn't normally listen to are all ways of |
| a way of thinking or perceiving the world and its | | | | exposing yourself to new sensations. |
| possibilities. Seen this way, creativity can be seen not | | | | Step 3: Be brave and take a leap. Part of exploring |
| only in the innovations made by enterprising inventors | | | | creativity is to take a chance and brave the unknown. |
| but also in the time management skills of a parent who | | | | On the plus side, there are few rules here, so any |
| has to get three children to three different | | | | effort is worthy. |
| extracurricular activities, pick up the dry cleaning, get an | | | | Step 4: Expect some failures...and growth. Another |
| oil change, pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy, shop | | | | reason people shun creative effort is the fear of |
| for groceries, and make dinner in the space of a few | | | | failure. Failing once, even many times, does not equate |
| hours. | | | | to complete failure. If this were true, none of us would |
| So, how do you unlock your own creativity? I'm sure | | | | have learned to walk. Can you imagine if the first failed |
| that there are many approaches to this, but here is a | | | | attempt of a baby to take a step was met by a |
| 5-step approach that I have used successfully with my | | | | parent who scooped up the child, deposited him or her |
| clients. | | | | in her playpen and said, "Too bad. Oh well. I guess you'll |
| Step 1: Make the choice to be creative. First, you have | | | | never walk"? Failure, while certainly not fun, can |
| to get past that mental block about what you think is | | | | provide the opportunity to learn, grow and may even |
| creative. If you have it in your head that it is impossible | | | | expose new opportunities or ideas. Many of this |
| for you to be creative, it will be. Be intentional in your | | | | world's "failures" led to incredible inventions, after all. It |
| choice and define what creativity will be for you and | | | | took Thomas Edison more than 50,000 attempts to |
| by what criteria you will determine your success. | | | | create the alkaline battery that we still use today. So, |
| Expressing your creativity may involve one of the | | | | cut yourself a little slack!Step 5: Recognize your |
| traditional channels (art, music, poetry, etc.) or it may | | | | achievement. Too often, when we do something |
| come out as new ways of coming up with solutions in | | | | creative or new, and someone acknowledges it, we |
| the workplace. Maybe it means expanding your | | | | brush it off with a "Oh, it's nothing. Not a big deal." Don't |
| culinary skills or redecorating your home or maybe it | | | | minimize any attempt or progress you make towards |
| means an innovative approach to a science or other | | | | unlocking your creativity. If you took the leap, be sure |
| type of research project. What it looks like is all up to | | | | to hold your head up, throw your arms out and |
| you. | | | | celebrate it! |