What Really Is Creativity?
Creativity...a word we throw around commonly, but do we really consider the full implications of what it implies? How can it be productive? Can it be productive at all?
Before all this, let's discover what creativity actually means and how you can stimulate it...
What Creativity Is...
Creativity is the ability, voluntary or involuntary, to think out of the norm IN A PRODUCTIVE manner. Hence, it is virtually impossible to correctly use creativity and it not result in increased productivity.As opposed to what many people assume, Creativity is not a special "gift" reserved for a chosen few, but something that mankind as a whole possesses. Although each individual has a different area where their creativity truly shines.
For example, finding a short-cut to work even though it is not marked on the road is a form of creativity. Editing a two page article to make it fit one page is creativity as well.
These little displays of creativity often go un-noticed and lead people to believe that some are more creative than others.
The truth is, that some are more creative than others at a given task in a specific context.
Creativity Quotes
"The creative process is a process of surrender, not control." - Julia Cameron
"Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you." - Mahatma Gandhi
How Creative Do You Think You Are?
Creativity In Context Of Productivity....
and why your answer in the poll above is definitely wrong.
We often judge the creative potential of an individual based on how their creativity affects the productivity in a given context. This is what often leads to labeling someone as more creative than others.An ad agency worker who comes up with a creative way to present a product that leads to more sales is considered creative. On the other hand, a cameraman may come up with a creative way to save more film in each shot, hence also increasing productivity.
However, like many teenagers today, you may come up with 25 different ways to destroy a hard disk. This also is creativity, but not necessarily seen as productive. Hence, the "creative" label is not applicable in this situation.
The issue is - creativity is meaningful only when it is applied in a productive sense to the rest of the community, not just to you.
Creativity = ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to problems.
Productivity = ability to get things done in the least amount of time possible with the highest quality possible.
Creative Productivity - getting things done in the least amount of time with the highest quality by thinking outside the box and using unconventional means.
How Creative Do You Think You Are Now?
Think - how productive am I to the REST of the community?
How To Stimulate Productive Creativity In Yourself...
Each person has a different stimulus. For one, reading a book can be sufficient, another may kick into the creative mode after watching a movie.However, numerous studies show there are three common factors between highly creative people when they get their ideas:
1. They are focused on or thinking of something completely different from what the creative solution is about. This shows that the subconscious mind is always working on problems and computing the best possible solution to all of the questions presented.
2. The ideas seem contradictory to conventional wisdom. This makes complete sense since conventional wisdom is based on the mechanical solutions reached through conscious effort and most of the creative solutions seem to be a sub-conscious deduction.
3. The creative solutions present themselves while doing something that requires only muscle memory and mechanical focus. Some of these include driving, riding a bike, exercising, staring at clouds and so on. Essentially these are activities that don't require deep thinking or focus on a given topic, but instead focus on something that the individual is extremely used to.
Get your creative juices flowing with these books...
Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/02/2008) 
Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 12/02/2008)
The Zen of Creativity: Cultivating Your Artistic Life
Amazon Price: $12.24 (as of 12/02/2008)
Creativity for Graphic Designers
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 12/02/2008)
The Business Side of Creativity: The Complete Guide to Running a Small Graphic Design or Communications Business, Third Updated Edition
Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 12/02/2008)
5 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Creative Potential
- Cut back on caffeine. It forces you to make mechanical choices and thereby makes you more likely to miss the creative solutions that may otherwise have been obvious.
- Get between 6 and 8 hours of sleep. Oversleeping is FAR more dangerous to the creative mind than under sleeping is. In fact, in some instances lack of sleep can help since the brain tries to ge the best possible solution in the least possible time - something that often requires creativity.
- Exercise often. It relaxes the mind, removes excess energy, helps optimize and stabilize the body and is one of the best ways to get thinking.
- Regularly indulge in a good challenging sport or game. Chess, cards and UNO are some of the easiest ones to get into. But playing games like Raquetball that require quick calculation of angles and hand-to-eye co-ordination are an excellent way to keep your mind on the edge.
- Eat well! Diet plays a great role in a person's mental capabilities. Eating a high protein, low fat diet with regular exercise is a crucial pre-requisite to mental sharpness that results in greater creativity and productivity.
Questions? Concerns? Feedback?
wrote
Wonderful lens. To be alive is to be in a constant state of creation. It's nice to see creativity celebrated and nourished!
Posted August 28, 2008
wrote
You left out one very important practice for the best mental functioning ... drinking water. The brain requires water for neurons to fire properly. An under-hydrated mind will be foggy, restless, and fatigued.
Great take on a great topic.
Welcome to Empowerment & Enlightenment
Posted July 21, 2008
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Creativity links
- Potent Mind
- motivated productivity, creativity, efficiency and self improvement
Potent Mind Videos
Managing Your Productive Creativity
http://potentmind.com - Productivity and creativity is an important aspect in any profession. No matter what you do it is important to use your time wisely.
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