Creativity is not a gift. It is something we have to work for. If you think you are either born creative or non creative, then you are laboring under a mistaken notion. Creativity is within everyone's reach. Master these strategies to unleash your creative potential.
-Saturation. Research is the first step to creative thinking. The great inventor Thomas Edison initially gathered and studied all the data and previous experiments of other inventors. He filled his mind first with all the facts before he tried to solve the problems himself.
-Incubation. Having done all the work on a conscious level, the second step is a passive one. By relaxing, loafing and letting go, all you have learned and experienced in your lifetime will simmer in the part of your brain. We call it the subconscious mind. It works in a mysterious way, converting the data into new concepts and patterns. Salvador Dali, the master of surrealism used to sit in an armchair and hold a key over a plate on the floor. When he fell asleep the sound of the key hitting the plate would awaken him. Immediately he'd sketch the bizarre images he was seeing. That's how he got to paint all those prize winning paintings of his. Artists, writers, inventors etc. should always have a laptop, sketchpad or notepads handy. You never know when a creative surge of inspiration may hit you.
-Broadening. The more diverse knowledge you have, the greater your potential for creative output. So it's important to provide a free channel for the flow of ideas. Be aware of the slightest intimation of ideas. Walk through stores, galleries and parks. Seek impressions. Be nosy. Learn from everyone. And get it in writing fast.
-Verification. This is where brainstorming steps in. In the process of brainstorming there's a continuous exchange of ideas within a group or among your colleagues. Thus creating a stockpile of creative ideas. Though some ideas may be rejected by the majority, it helps if you balance private sessions to team meetings. This generally generates twice as much new concepts compared to the solely brainstorming group. After all creativity is almost always as individual process.
