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By Edel Jarboe
Creativity is defined as the generation of a new idea or a new way of doing things. The creative person is one who generates such new ideas while the creative process is how these new ideas, solutions, and inventions are produced. That said, we are all naturally creative. From poetry to building a house, from computer programming to humor, from music to science, creativity is manifested in a variety of different ways.
Everyday Creativity
Everyone is creative on a daily basis, coming up with many small solutions to the problems that arise on any given day. For example, when you didn't have any flour tortillas to make hand-rolled enchiladas, you layered corn tortillas, beef, cheese, and enchilada sauce to create a layered enchilada casserole that your family inhaled. Or, when you and your husband didn't have enough money to go out for a night of dinner and dancing, you had a candlelight pizza dinner and rented your favorite video. At work, when headquarters cancelled the annual bonus, creative thinking helped you come up with a new way to keep your employees motivated by offering them flextime schedules and a group discount at a health club. Thus, creativity allows us to learn what we are capable of. It allows us to realize that our limits are expandable and that it is up to us to stretch these limits of what is possible for our happiness.
Creativity is Good for Your Soul
In the same vein, creativity provides us with a way to lift ourselves above the daily grind of our habitual lives. Every once in a while we need a new way of looking at the world and at ourselves. Allowing ourselves to be creative renews this connection to ourselves.
Moreover, creativity frees your spirit to be true to itself. It frees you to exist in the moment because when you are totally absorbed in the process, you are living in the moment. You are released from the confines of your everyday thinking and feeling. You are released from the constraints of your everyday self. In these (sometimes too brief) moments of creativity you are also free of judgments. You are not judging yourself, but trusting the process. It is as if you have turned on the light in the playroom of your mind, heart, and soul and you feel utterly free to play with ideas and objects in an entirely new way. It is as if you sense that this is what it means to be fully alive.
Creativity is a gift. Like the gift of laughter, for example, it is one of pleasure. It is the ability to experience pleasure on an intellectual, emotional, and spiritual level. Whether you craft beauty, open minds, touch hearts, or solve complex problems the point is that you allow yourself the freedom to let your instincts and intellect guide you.
Treat Yourself to a Dose of Creativity
Since creativity is good for the soul, what can you do to add more creativity to your life? What skills or hobbies do you enjoy that allow you to be creative? Is it cooking, designing furniture, or some other craft? Is it writing poetry or short stories? Is it designing computer programs? Whatever it is that allows you to get lost in the process and frees you to be more of who you are, embrace it and make it a part of your life.
How can you put creative thinking into practice in your career or business? Do you have a lot of great ideas for your department or company that would increase productivity or profits? Don't be shy. Write down these ideas and present them to the person who has the power to make them a reality. And, if this person is you, then by all means go for it.
Flexing Your Creative Muscle
Our ability to come up with creative solutions to life's problems is a survival skill. It is an extension of mankind's ability to adapt to our environment. And, once we get in the habit of using this skill, we begin to see problems as a fun challenge to our inherent creativity. So, go ahead and flex your creative muscle. Feel yourself getting stronger mentally and spiritually. Build confidence in your ability to cope with anything that comes your way. With creative thinking, anything and everything is possible.
Keywords: creativity, creative thinking
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About the Author
Edel Jarboe, USA
www.selfhelpforher.com
Edel Jarboe is the founder of SelfHelpforHer.com, an online magazine providing articles, tools, and resources for getting your life on track. Her popular ezine, The Insight Newsletter, offers practical advice and solutions for the obstacles that can hinder you in your quest for success and happiness.
Subscribe at: http://www.selfhelpforher.com/sln.htm You can also subscribe to her daily Insightful Quotes newsletter at http://www.selfhelpforher.com
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