Unlock Your Creativity

Humans are, I think, innately creative. It is how we have been able to evolve from hunter gatherers to the complex society we are today.

So how are you using your creativity? Don't dismiss those every day solutions you come up with. They are the result of creativity too.

But we are capable of so much and we often decide to accept much less than we can truly be. So let's talk about how we can turbo charge the creativity in each of us.

My first suggestion is to use mindfulness.

In the moment conciousness or mindfulness meditation

This is a form of meditation that we should try to practice several times a day. It is about simply being in the moment.

As an example, if you are eating, really concentrate on the act of eating. Chew slowly, savour the flavours and textures of what you are experiencing. Reject any thoughts that intrude about anything other than what you are doing right then. This extends to anything you are doing.

Think about breathing. That's all, just your breath going in and out of your body.

I know it sounds batty, but this sort of relaxation for the brain allows it to randomly come up with thoughts and solutions you wouldn't be able to force normally.

It allows the beta waves to come through. More on this in the meditation page.

Walking. Think of nothing more than your body moving, the brush of the air against your skin, your breath in and out.

Try to be mindful at least 3 times a day for at least a few moments. It can have an astonishing impact.

There is a great lecture/workshop by Jon Kabat-Zinn to Google staff that takes an hour to experience, all about mindfulness. I found it very worthwhile and it's available below.

Another really interesting way to unlock your creativity is by using Morning Pages. This involves you writing 3 pages of long hand every morning before your internal 'critic' kicks in.

It is another really effective method of unlocking the creative genie within. Morning pages are part of the process described by Julia Cameron in her book 'The Artist's Way'. Julia should know...she has written many books and screenplays that you will be familiar with.

Here she is discussing the use of morning pages to a seminar group.

Julia Cameron is someone I am genuinely in awe of. You can learn more about her work at her official website 'The Artist's Way'.

Watch. Learn. Go forth and create!

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