Creativity really matters when you're stuck

Caught up, as we are, in the practical demands of daily life, creativity naturally takes a back seat.  But there are times when you simply have to be creative.

The clearest of these is when you're stuck.  If you find yourself having the same arguments over and over again, making the same mistakes again and again, unable to solve a work problem, moving from diet to diet and never getting anywhere, or otherwise feel like you're stuck on repeat, then you absolutely need to be creative.  Your life is too precious to waste on dead-end patterns.

Here's what I suggest:  at the very moment you realize you're stuck, stop.  Just stop and let the reality sink in.  Realize what a sad waste this pattern is.  If you really feel sad about it, make a commitment to change it.

Motivation is absolutely everything to creativity.  Use your motivation to spark a creative process of exploration.  Tap into all of the parts of your life that do work.  What are your strengths?  What are the strengths of others involved in the problem?  What inspires you?  A particular movie, book, your religion, someone in your life?  How could that help you? 

Along the path of this exploration, you will find inspiration.  An insight will emerge that helps you to climb out of your rut.  Seize the opportunity and create an open space for your life. 

Do you see what I see? The three traits of perception.

Creativity requires perceptions that open the mind and awaken it to unforeseen possibilities.  Perception isn't just passively taking things in:  it is conscious awareness or understanding of input from our senses.   You can train yourself to be more perceptive just as you can train yourself to be more decisive, or more organized.  The only requirement is the will to do so.


Being perceptive means seeing more than others see.  Typically, the reason we miss what's right under our noses is that we are distracted or operating on automatic.  The way to train yourself to be more perceptive is to focus and really look, listen, and strive to understand. 


As you go through your day, set aside time (such as a walk to the coffee shop) to develop these three traits:

• Actively observe. Clear away your assumptions and see your world with fresh eyes.

• Be curious. Why are things they the way they are? Do they have to be that way? How would you want them to be different?

• Perceive. Strive to internalize and understand what you observe, letting what you learn lead you to new ideas.

The more you practice, the easier you will find it to perceive.  And within those perceptions, you will find creative gold.

Courage and creativity

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you took any one of your amazing ideas--any one of them--and actually started working on it?  Well, what's stopping you?

If you're like me, most of what's stopping you is fear.  It comes in many guises, from "I don't have time" to "You know, I don't think that's such a great idea after all."  But it's really fear of what would happen if you changed they way you work, for example, or if others saw your idea and didn't respond positively.

The question of the day is how to find the courage to be creative?  My favorite recipe is:  Love, Self-Awareness, Commitment.  When I start feeling all dizzy about the risks I'm taking, I go to my family for love and support.  Then I look at myself and ask, what on earth am I scared of?  What could I do to change my attitude about risk?  And last, I am very firm with myself.  I must keep my commitments, especially those I've made to myself.  Otherwise, what am I?

So straighten up and look danger in the eye.  You can do this, and when you do--it's gonna be great.