Creative Thinking
What even is creative thinking? “A way of looking at
problems or situations from a fresh perspective that suggests unorthodox
solutions (which may look unsettling at first)” (BusinessDictionary.com). (When
it comes to thinking creatively, it can be quite a difficult task. Ironically
enough thinking with an open mind can be challenging considering you most
likely have to come up with something completely groundbreaking. But, there are
some easy solutions to helping you channel your inner creative mind. Here are
some different tips and tricks I found most helpful and hopefully you will too!
“The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas”
(Skillsyouneed.com). This is definitely a philosophy to live by. What has
helped me most with creative thinking has been to think of literally anything I
possibly can, even if it seems completely ridiculous. Because, no idea is a bad
idea! So, be sure to constantly stimulate your mind with as many ideas and solutions
as possible. It helps- trust me! Take Edison’s advice for it. “I might fail.
Thomas Edison, in his search for the perfect filament for the incandescent
lamp, tried anything he could think of, including whiskers from a friend's
beard. In all, he tried about 1800 things. After about 1000 attempts, someone
asked him if he was frustrated at his lack of success. He said something like,
"I've gained a lot of knowledge--I now know a thousand things that won't
work” (Harris, Virtualsalt.com).
Be sure to challenge yourself! Don’t be timid to step
outside of the box and think of ideas you would have never pictured yourself
doing. “Challenge. Curious people like to identify and challenge the
assumptions behind ideas, proposals, problems, beliefs, and statements. Many
assumptions, of course, turn out to be quite necessary and solid, but many
others have been assumed unnecessarily, and in breaking out of those
assumptions often comes a new idea, a new path, a new solution” (Harris,
Virtualsalt.com).
At the end of the day, your ideas are what you make of them.
They can only go so far if you let them. With that being said, my biggest word
of advice would be to write down every single idea you ever have down. Good
luck and get those creative juices flowing!
“Creativity works in mysterious and often paradoxical ways.
Creative thinking is a stable, defining characteristic in some personalities,
but it may also change based on situation and context. Inspiration and ideas
often arise seemingly out of nowhere and then fail to show up when we most need
them, and creative thinking requires complex cognition yet is completely distinct
from the thinking process" (Gregolre, Huffingpost.com).
No comments:
Post a Comment