Benefits Of Creativity

You can find lots of advice and tips on how to be creative in books and magazines, and on the Internet. But you may not find the answer to one important question. Why? What's the value in being creative - beyond innovation and solving problems?

In honor of Creative Beginnings Month (May), here are some reasons why you might want to get your creative juices flowing:

• Creativity feels good. Nothing reinforces your self-esteem like finding a fresh solution to a nagging problem or finding a new way to look at a familiar situation.
• The world changes. Taking a creative look at your surroundings can shift your perspective and make the world feel like new. It also contributes to a more positive outlook - you see possibilities, not obstacles.
• Competition is minimal. If you do what everyone else does, you'll have to work harder to stand out. Take a novel approach to problems at work and at home, and other people will notice you more quickly.
• Stress eases. Focusing on new solutions and responses to the world around you can help you relax. You'll stop fighting and start taking an active role in your own life, which will improve your outlook and your physical health.
• You'll grow. The challenge of creativity forces you to learn new things, stretch your skills, change your thinking - and evolve as a person.

I have always been a creative guy.  Down through the years I have always been an "idea guy"  I can: invent, draw pictrures, paint scenes, carve all kinds of things, write stories, and more. 

Where do my ideas come from?  Mostly I get ideas because of a need I'm told about or one I have observed.  Once I see the need I begin to think about it, ponder it, turn it over and over in my mind, gaze at every facet of the problem as if it were an uncut diamond,   and then try to think up ways to fill the need.  Next, I do research - I investigate, search and gather as many facts as I can.

Later,  just before I go to sleep at night, I give the problem (the need) to my sub conscious brain  I say something like this:

"OK, Subconscious Brain, here is a problem for you to help me solve.  I need your solution by Friday of this week or before, so work on it and get back to me by then. Thank you for your help."

Then, I forget about the problem and go about my regular work. I do that with 100% confidence that I will have the solution to the problem on time.

In reality what I'm doing is putting the idea into "incubation"  so the  process of "growing" the solution to the problem can be nurtured and in that way be allowed to grow to maturity. Then, when my conscious brain gets the idea (the solution) on that "Friday." -  from my sub-conscious brain, all I have to do is begin to think about it some more,clean it up and mentally grind off the rough edges of the raw idea and  try to refine it. The final step is to  either write the idea down or simply put it into practice.  As you can see there is nothing to it!  Try it yourself, it's lot of fun and there are many hidden benefits to being -  creative!

Terry L. Weber

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