The three basic traits of creativity

Every creative process shares three basic traits:  intention, perception, and play.

• Intention is the crucial first element--motivation, purpose, drive.  Without intention, any creativity happens passively as an accident, and therefore can't be sustained.  Find your motivation and form an intention, and you are already on the path to creativity.
• Perception is necessary to creation because potential ideas and insights are buried by assumptions and habits.  Perception is truly seeing and understanding something in your world, not just passively looking at it.  Creative gold is everywhere, if you actively look for it.
• Last but definitely not least, play is what gives creativity energy and shape. Tapping into your imagination frees you to find new solutions.  In addition, a playful spirit enjoys the process of creativity, laughing when goofy ideas come into your head, getting excited when breakthroughs are finally reached. 

Intention, perception, and play are all traits that everyone can practice and develop--not talents, but behaviors. Using these three behaviors has an enormous impact on relationships, health, careers... everything you shape and do. Enjoy them!