Creativity is something you DO!

Everybody is naturally creative but many of us don't feel that way. This is because we're confused about what creativity truly is.Creativity is not something you 'are' but something you 'do.'Contrary to what you may think, creative people don't just pop out inspirational ideas from nowhere. They're trained to use their imagination and they work hard to come up with these ideas.A ‘creative’ person is someone who makes a daily practice of being creative. They've arranged their lives and their businesses to inspire and nurture their imagination. They perform creativity exercises, try new things, and always search for a better way.This is something they do daily. If you get into this daily practice, you'll also find it much easier to let your creativity flow without even thinking about it.Creativity is a practice. It's something you do every day and the more regularly you make creative time, the easier it is to find new ideas.I know how tough it is for most people to be creative, so here are a few tips I use when I need to think of ideas.

Act Like A Child

There are a number of reasons kids are so creative, and one of them is that they ask questions. If you have a child, especially around 5 or 6 years old, you know that they ask questions relentlessly.A favorite of most kids is 'Why?'As adults, we don't ask nearly as many questions as we should. Instead, we pretend we know all the answers. But learning to ask questions can really help you stimulate your creativity, generate ideas and problem solve.Here's an exercise to stimulate your creativity. Take a problem, challenge, project or anything else you're working on. Set a timer and for ten minutes, write down as many questions about it as possible.These don't have to be deep, probing questions. In fact, as the old adage says, there is no 'stupid' question. Sometimes questions with really obvious answers are the ones that need to be asked.Once you've generated a massive list of questions, go through them and offer answers. Some will be easy to answer. Others will lead your mind in new directions and get you thinking differently about the problem.

Don’t Try To Be Perfect

As you learn how to unlock your creativity, you'll see that it's not about gaining new things but more about losing old things. One of the best things to lose is your impulse to be a perfectionist.Perfectionism means well. You want what you create to be the best it can be. But more often than not, it actually prevents the creative process from happening.After all, what does it mean to be 'perfect?' What it really means for most of us is, 'like everything else.' When you aim for perfection, you often destroy the very qualities that make your creation unique.Perfectionism can completely put a stop to your creative process. In order to be creative, you have to create a lot of things. Practice makes perfect. When you're always stopping because something isn't good enough, you never get better.It's good to have bad ideas because it means you have ideas. It's good to make bad art because you're making art. Any artist or writer will tell you have to get through some failures to reach your successes.Try to identify when perfectionism is hurting your creativity and stop it before it stops you.

Try Brainstorming

Do you ever feel stuck for ideas? Everyone does at one time or another. Some of us always seem to be!When you need to think of ideas but nothing is coming, here are some ideas to help you get them down:

1. Don't Judge. No matter how silly you think your idea is, don't judge it. Write it down and leave it for tomorrow. Tomorrow you can look at it with fresh eyes and decide whether it's usable or not.
2. Force It. Sit with a piece of paper in a room with no distractions. Set a timer for an hour and make one simple rule – You can write down ideas or you can do nothing at all. You can't do anything except write down ideas for that one hour. Pretty soon, you'll be writing.
3. Go Outside. If you're brainstorming and stuck, take a break. Go outside and go for a walk. The movement may get your brain moving as well.
4. Ask Someone. Ask someone who has no idea about your problem and see what they say. This could be a neighbor, a friend, or even a child. They may hit upon the obvious idea you're missing.
5. Seek Inspiration. Before you start brainstorming, feed your brain with ideas from others. Surf the web and look at similar ideas. These ideas might inform your own in your brainstorming.
6. Turn It Around. Take an idea from somewhere else and imagine the opposite. It may or may not work, but at least it'll get you thinking.

Now It’s Your Turn! I hope that you’ve been inspired to unlock the flow of YOUR creativity!With a little practice, you’ll see how boosting your creativity is a benefit to every aspect of your business, from product creation to customer service.

Now let's hear from you. Has this changed your perception of what it means to be creative? Tell us in the comments below!