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