Many people wonder whether creativity is innate or learned. I believe it is both. It can be a skill that you are born with, and it can also be a skill that you cultivated and developed over time. And it isn’t a skill that limits only to artists; it’s also the use of new ideas to approach and solve a problem.
I’m not an artist but I pick up drawing and painting as a hobby after I retired. And, before I retired, I was a Systems Analyst who was always solving software problems.
Here, I would like to share with you some ideas I used to cultivate and boost creativity to achieve my personal artistic goals or solve a problem.
Cultivating Creativity to Achieve Artistic Goals
- Copy Artists You Like and Experimenting with New Techniques, Materials, Themes, and Subjects
No artists or creators are completely original. So, to develop your own technique start by copying and experimenting.
- Remove Self-Doubt
The worst enemy of creativity is self-doubt. If self-doubt stops you from creating, just acknowledge and recognize your thought for what it is then just put your head down and start working again.
- Challenge Yourself to Create Every Day
Try something new every day. This not only makes creativity a routine part of your life, but it will also improve your skills.
Cultivating Creativity for Problem Solving
- Don’t Panic
Panic kills ideas. So, when the deadline is approaching, remember to relax and stay calm.
- Don’t be Afraid of Failure
Ideas always come with risks and fear of failure can hold you back. Remember that failure is an important part of the creative process and will usually lead to even brighter ideas.
- Bounce Your ideas off Someone
When trying to tackle a problem, it can be easy to get trapped within your own limitations. Sharing your ideas with someone can remove these limitations and open you up to new thinking.
- Go for a Walk
I find this very useful when you are stuck – take a break and go for a walk Movement is a great way to shake off mental and physical fatigue and open the mind.
Final Thoughts
Creativity is not a special gift bestowed to just a few lucky individuals. You can learn to boost your creativity in both artistic goals and problem solving,