A Spark of Creativity

If you've ever watched fireworks, whether as a small child or as an adult, it's likely you've experienced moments of awe at the grandiose pyrotechnics illuminating the night. What's even more amazing is that all it takes is a relatively small, smoldering stick to spark the explosive array of color, sound and light overhead.

When it comes to creativity, it seems some are able to come up with innovative ideas comparable to a dazzling display, where others of us can't even seem to get the match to light. And it's true: some people are more creative than others. However, each of us have the ability to improve our creativity, and all it takes is a small spark to light things up.

“If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.” –Peter F. Drucker

We often think of creative people as those who can draw, or paint, or pull off an amazing performance on stage. At the office, the creative gene may seem to be limited to those in leadership. Or maybe you see ingenuity as the role of those on the creative team in the marketing department. At home, it may be assumed that it's your significant other's role to keep things new and interesting. I like to think that creativity spans a broader demographic, and is a behavior which can be achieved by anyone who puts their mind (and effort!) to it. Consider creativity in a more comprehensive sense. For example, it could be as simple as being open to and actively pursuing novel ideas. It's being willing to take on new approaches, and seek out fresh ideas from a variety of sources. It's being able to consider new solutions to old ways of doing things, and being willing to ask questions which generate new ideas--and encouraging others to do the same.

Creativity can be about taking risks to test out a new idea to see if it's a worthy one. It's about being curious. People who are creative tend to be flexible and adaptable, and view 'failure' as feedback instead of a setback.

“If you have always done it that way, it is probably wrong.” –Charles Kettering

Looking at it in this light, how creative are you? Here are some questions to ask yourself. If you answer yes to any of the below, your creativity could probably use a spark:

• Do you worry about impending yet necessary change in your personal or professional life?
• Do you respond negatively to new situations?
• Are you one to complain when changes occur?
• Do you take an inflexible stance when new ideas are introduced?
• Are you hesitant to take on new challenges?
• Have you ever said, “That’s not the way we do things”?
• Do you drag your feet toward change even when you recognize the 'old ways' aren't working anymore?

If you have more yes's than no's, there's no need to write yourself off as hopeless. Creativity and innovation are competencies of emotional intelligence, that ability to be aware of our own emotions and those of others, then manage our behaviors accordingly. And the good news about emotional intelligence is that it can be improved, with some effort.

But first, why develop your creativity? Research shows that increased creativity can:

• lift us out of ruts
• sparks new ideas
• provide fresh perspectives
• open up better ways of doing things
• give us a positive outlook
• connect us with others
• create a sense of accomplishment

"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions."--Albert Einstein

Most of us who don't think we're creative allow ourselves to get stuck behind one or more of the following hurdles. Which one of these is preventing you from sparking something new?

1-Negative self-talk. "I'm just not creative," you may tell yourself. And based upon what you're thinking, it may seem as if it's true. But in all verity, each of us can be creative in some shape or form. In his article, "Challenging Negative Self-Talk", Ben Martin, Psy.D., suggests we start by testing the accuracy of our negative self-perceptions, by asking one or all of these four questions:

• What actual evidence do I have for this thought?
• Are my thoughts factual or an interpretation?
• Am I assuming the action associated with this thought will have a negative outcome? Why?
• How can I test my thoughts for truth? [https://psychcentral.com/lib/challenging-negative-self-talk/]

Just because someone has criticized you in the past doesn't mean you have to wear their stamp of disapproval like a scarlet letter. Allow yourself to see yourself as imaginative despite the negativity of others.

2-I choose distractions. Would you rather mindlessly scroll on your phone or carve out time for innovative thinking? Here's a quick test: Yes or no - do you pick up your phone every time you have a free moment? If so, you may be limiting your ability--and time--to think creatively. In an article entitled, "Why You Should Put Your Phone Down", author Alexandra Hayes notes that "Allowing your mind to wander is a prerequisite for having a eureka moment, and when your gaze is perpetually glued to your phone, mind-wandering is nearly impossible." [https://thriveglobal.com/stories/brain-body-benefits-less-screen-time/?]. Next time you pick up your phone, consider setting it back down and allowing your mind a little freedom to wander, and wonder.

3-I'm too busy. When my kids were little, they'd tire of a game or activity and whine, "I'm bored". Instead of fixing it for them by providing a new, engaging activity, I'd often respond with, "OK". It wasn't long before they'd find something else to do, on their own. As adults, we tend to stay so busy that we never allow ourselves to feel bored. However, boredom can spark creative ideas. "Bored people feel that their actions are meaningless and so they are motivated to engage in meaningful behaviour," concludes Wijnand van Tilburg, co-author of the paper, "Bored George Helps Others: A Pragmatic Meaning-Regulation Hypothesis on Boredom and Prosocial Behaviour." [https://www.theguardian.com/science/2011/may/06/boredom-good-for-you-claims-study].

So consider freeing up your schedule for some ‘nothing time’, allow yourself to feel bored, and see what happens next.

4-Innovative ideas are not safe in this environment. Your surroundings may not feel like a safe place to exercise creativity. You may have a boss who disregarded an idea you had, or a significant other who laughed at your last novel suggestion for a fun, family activity. It makes sense why you may choose to shut down your creativity. In an article entitled, "Why A Culture of Innovation Doesn't Work When People Are Afraid", author Pere Rosales points out that when our work environment conditions us to keep quiet and do what we're told, instead of exercising creativity, employees are concerned more with not coming across ignorant or incompetent. The result? "People keep everything—from big ideas to good questions—inside," severely limiting new and innovative ideas for growth. [https://inusual.com/en/blog/why-a-culture-of-innovation-doesnt-work-when-people-are-afraid].

If you are in a situation such as this, it may be time to have a conversation with your manager or human resources professional, or, at home, with your significant other about how it is important for you to feel you have a say in helping to create new direction when needed. As well, be sure you are doing your part to create a safe environment for creativity, making sure not to criticize or ridicule new ways of doing things.

5-I don't know where to start. Sometimes getting started is the biggest hurdle in sparking creativity. In Josh Spector's article, "How to Start a Creative Project When You Don't Know Where to Begin", he speaks of the importance of recognizing there are two aspects to every creative project: ideas and execution. Sometimes we get overwhelmed by the actions we'd need to take that we shut down. Spending time on a simple brainstorming exercise can get the ideas flowing, thus helping us launch.

When you're ready to ignite your creativity, here are a few prompts to journal about or discuss with a close friend or coach:

• In which areas of your life are things feeling stale or stagnant? How does it make you feel?
• What is one shift you foresee needs to be made in your workplace? At home?
• What is your role in preventing necessary changes at work? At home?
• If you were to make changes, who else would it involve and how would the changes potentially impact them?
• What conversations do you need to have and with whom to initiate change?
• What is one thing you can do today to start in a fresh direction?

Making the smallest of effort towards creativity may be just the spark you need to create your own fireworks display!

“There’s a way to do it better – find it.” –Thomas A. Edison