A lot of times it’s easy for the days to whiz by and for us to feel like all we did was tick off boxes on our to-do list. If you’ve been reading Glitter Guide for some time, you know our tagline is “Flashes of Delight”, which refers to those small sparks of joy or wonder that unexpectedly enter your day. We think this ties in exponentially with creative energy. The more you actively seek out flashes of delight, the more creativity calls to you. But what can you do to help you expand your field of vision and see the world more creatively? A few small habit tweaks will do the trick.
Embrace new experiences
The power of “yes” is an incredible thing when it comes to growing creatively. When people are extra open to new experiences — a trait that’s also been linked to insight and imagination — things can look a little different. Their brains are able to flexibly engage with less conventional solutions. It makes sense, when you think about it: The more open you are, the more possibilities you see in everything around you.
“Waste time” on daydreams
We talk extensively about the benefits of daydreaming in this post, but the short version is this: mind-wandering can aid in the process of “creative incubation.” And of course, many of us know from experience, that our best ideas come seemingly out of the blue when our minds are elsewhere.
Set aside time for solitude
“In order to be open to creativity, one must have the capacity for constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone,” wrote the American existential psychologist Rollo May. You need to get in touch with that inner monologue to be able to express it. It’s hard to find that inner creative voice if you’re not getting in touch with yourself and reflecting.
Look for zebras
There’s a phrase you’ll hear often from “logical” professions such as doctors, law enforcement, scientists, etc. When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras. Coined in the late 1940s by Dr. Theodore Woodward, this phrase simply means that we should use common sense and look for the expected cause first, rather than searching out something more exotic. But when you’re trying to see the world more creatively, you want to do the opposite. Look for the zebras. When you encounter a problem or a challenge, come up with the craziest, most out-of-this-world explanation you can think of that would explain it or solve it. Sure, it might not be the correct solution, but it will lead you in a much more creative route.
Ask big questions
As someone with a 4-year-old who loves to ask a million questions a day about why some trees have flowers and others don’t, or how a honeybee spends its day, curiosity is crucial for creativity. Creative people are insatiably curious — they generally opt to live the examined life, and even as they get older, maintain a sense of curiosity about life. Whether through intense conversation or solitary mind-wandering, creatives look at the world around them and want to know why, and how, it is the way it is.
