Ignite Your Creativity & Imagination
“Curiosity about life in all its aspects, I think is still the secret of great creative people.”
– Leo Burnett
Curiosity is something that we observe in children, but too often it gets lost as we get older. Following are 5 suggestions for you to recharge your curiosity and ignite your creativity and imagination – which can also re-ignite your business.
• Actively look for and be open to sources of inspiration. Don’t expect creativity to just happen. Look for new sources of inspiration and allow time to read, meditate. Spending 15-30 minutes in the morning reading and/or meditating is a great way to start your day – or to end your day. Follow favorite blogs, be inspired by taking time to relax and enjoy your favorite magazines – either online or in print. So often they are.
• Immerse yourself in nature – sit on your porch with your morning coffee or tea and enjoy the sunrise while listening to your favorite music playing in the background – or while you enjoy the sunset. Or take time to disconnect and take a long walk. Exercising causes your body to release endorphins, chemicals that interact with various receptors in your brain. Those endorphins trigger positive feelings throughout your body and can also affect creativity. Empty your mind and let yourself be inspired by the beauty of nature. Take time to pay attention to the colors, textures, etc. and let your mind wander – allowing your creative juices to thrive.
• Identify what makes your “heart sing” and take time to indulge in your passions – visit an art gallery or museum, have fun with some type of craft, paint, listen to your favorite music, use your creativity in the kitchen, spend time with friends, your family and/or pets –
• Overcome negative attitudes and habits – they block creativity. Often these might be negative thoughts or attitudes that you are unconsciously practicing. Pay attention and make it a positive habit to identify and remove those negative attitudes and habits. One negative habit to eliminate –not taking time for yourself – even machines need time to relax! Take time out to enjoy life and you will find that you will be much more open to inspiration and new ideas and much less inclined to negative attitudes. Another negative habit to discard is fear – fear of change, fear of failure, etc. Fear will block your ability to be open to creativity.
• Connect with other successful people and be a lifelong learner. Talk less and listen more to learn from others. Being around other successful people is inspiring and not only do you learn from them, but so often the interaction will stimulate your own creativity. Attend seminars and conferences – whether in person or virtual. You gain the double benefit of continuing to learn and connecting with other successful people.
In the words of Cecil B. DeMille: “Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.” Let creativity spread through all areas of your life and make it your “drug” of choice!
Take time and enjoy our Creative Genius Podcast on the Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting Website. This week, we feature Gail Doby and ErinWeir as they discuss the Crystal Ball.
