BE CREATIVE YOURSELF

CREATIVITY

ART OF GENERATING NEW AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS.

There are two main strands of technical creativity:
Programmed thinking and lateral thinking.
Programmed thinking relies on logical or structured ways of creativity. Lateral thinking is approaching in a novel way.

HUMAN BRAIN:

Amongst the many marvels of the functioning of the brain, is the interplay between its two hemispheres: the right and left.
While both function together and we experience a combination of right-left hemisphere, there is a tendency for one hemisphere to be dominant.
With the knowledge of how we use our brain, we are better able to use the style of learning most effective for us.

LEFT HEMISPHERE:
The left hemisphere is responsible for our facility with language, Both written and spoken;
Our sense of numericals.
The linear process.
It is responsible for our ability to converge to a decision and be able to support it with sound reason.
It facilities our ability to analyze, i.e. breaking complex matters into simpler units.
The control of our right hand & Right organs.
It seeks to be discreet, specific and logical.

RIGHT HEMISPHERE:

The right hemisphere which controls and directs our left hand & left organs.
Bringing disparate thoughts into unison.
It processes in a non-linear fashion therefore making it difficult to trace back step by step, what really happened.
This makes us appreciate art and music,
Rendering us culturally alive.
The magical facility of imagination,
Creativity and being able to indulge in humor comes to life here.

We require contributions from both, the right and left modes.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CREATIVE PEOPLE:

• Problem Sensitivity
• Idea Fluency
• Originality
• Flexibility
• Drive

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CREATIVITY?

1. Develop a creative mental attitude:
Gaining confidence that you can become more creative is the first important step.
Creative thinking demands application and a positive self image. You have the belief in what you are trying to do and you have to believe in yourself. “You are what you think are you and you can do what you think can you do”. Begin approaching a problem with the belief that somehow will solve it. You may not exactly know how at the start, but just the belief will help you find the solution.

2. Unlock your imaginations:
Human brains have four functional areas:
Receptors: to receive signals from out side.
Storage: that files these sensations, where from facts and emotions can be recalled.
Judgmental area: that evaluates the information received the help us make decisions.
Imagination area: that combines the old and new information in novel ways.
It has been found that most of us use imagination area too little and the judgment area too much.

How can we unlock the door to our ‘imagination’?
Begin by learning to ask “Why”? More often, also what? When? Where? And How?
To exercise an unused imagination, play ‘thinking games: for example, how many uses for an ordinary brick can you think of? Try jotting down your ideas for three minutes.

3. Develop an open mind:
We are restricted by tunnel vision when trying to solve a problem We ourselves impose too many imaginary boundaries and constraints. Overcome fixed ideas, try new ways. Attempt to find not only one solution but several and develop the ability to allow on idea in favors of another. Develop as many as possible alternate solutions.
Develop open mind, it means being receptive of ideas from any source.

4. Suspend your judgment:
It has been found that our judgment grows with years while creativity dwindles unless consciously kept up. Also when we are deliberately hunting for ideas, as our judgments grows imagination declines. To become more creative we have not only to unlock imagination but also to suppress our judgment faculty especially in the early stages of solving a problem.

5. Set problem boundaries:
Setting boundaries should precede all attempts to solve it. Having problem specifications do not limit creativity, rather they focus it. Big problems should be split into many little ones an tackled individually. The most important point is that a time boundary must be set, the time period within which a solution must be found.

6. Tap your subconscious:
Our subconscious mind is compared to the invisible 90% of an iceberg. It shows that only a small portion of our mental powers is at our disposal. In the memory cells at the back of our mind may be dozens of facts and associations that you have completely forgotten and so have not brought into use in solving particular problems. But they are still there in the subconscious mind. They may come out to help you to find solutions to your problems.
Subconscious mind processes our problems, wrestles with them and compares them with other solutions stored deep in the memory. Moreover, a subconsciously processed idea is better because it will have the benefit of all the experience and knowledge you have accumulated in your life time. After having spent time looking for ideas, making them larger or smaller, turning them upside or down, inside or out or combining old ones with new ones and still if you have not come up with the solution, now is the time to let go off the problem and allow your subconscious to work on it.
Divert yourself by reading a novel, playing a game of chess or cards, hearing music, or even by taking a nap. Your subconscious mind will find a solution.

7. Day dreaming improves creativity:
Day dreaming promotes relaxation and enables you to think better. When you are relaxed, the mind is free to explore ideas and works more efficiently. Creative thinking, problem solving, decision making and idea generation are all enhanced.
In fact the best ideas come at the relaxed moments of day dreaming.