This Really Revs Up Your Amazing Creativity

A little dose of creativity and just about everything is better!

Creativity is a key factor in how you lead, approach a project, or even organize your day! But how do you rev up your creativity when you need it the most?

It starts with a shift in perspective!

Consider Bunnies

Counting bunnies – that’s what my husband and I do on our morning walks. There’s something satisfying about spotting a bunny casually munching away. The more we spot – the better the day! At least that’s how the game goes.

On a trip to Southern California, we stayed in an area where bunnies were plentiful! On one morning walk, I spotted more than 89 bunnies. That was a very good day!

Later, and once again on a morning walk, my husband informed me that bunnies were rodents!

In an instant, I saw bunnies in a very different light. I know I might be stepping on some toes here, but I loathe mice and rats! I know Mickey Mouse has gone a long way to improve the reputations of rodents, but I find the creatures disgusting.

Back to bunnies – the good news is that they are not rodents after all – at least not since 1912 when they were moved to a new order: Lagomorpha. To qualify as a rodent, you must indulge in both plants and meat as well as being the proud owners of a single set of incisors (handy little gnawing tools) that grow continuously. Rabbits, on the other hand, have an extra pair of incisors and indulge in an herbivorous diet.

Just one last fun fact: did you know that a group of bunnies is called fluffle in Canada? Isn’t that awesome?

What’s the purpose of bringing up this bunny business? To show how one small piece of information transforms your perspective leading to monumental shifts.

Back To Humans

Humans face challenges and obstacles daily both personally and professionally. You might even say they are unavoidable!

Think back. What was the last big challenge, hurdle, or obstacle that you confronted? Did you let that little bugger bring you to a halt? Or did you push forward and try to force something to happen? What if that unexpected circumstance was an invitation to get creative? How might that alter how you deal with difficulties?

Here’s the beauty in a challenge: it naturally produces boundaries and boundaries are creativity’s friend!

You might assume that freedom leads to the most creative ideas, but actually being forced to adhere to certain boundaries forces you to come up with options you would otherwise miss. The bonus is that boundaries often unearth superior ideas or solutions!

Stir Up Your Creativity!

When it comes to whatever you are currently facing, what would get out of your rut and propel you in a more innovative direction? Here are some things to keep in mind when you want to stir up your creativity:

1. Know the Result You’re After

Stephen Covey wisely taught “begin with the end in mind”. Knowing the goal, target, or result you are after before getting started is crucial. However, there’s a whole lot of ground between the beginning and the end! Space for creativity!

2. Brainstorm the “How”

Once the goal is clear, challenge yourself and/or your team to think outside the box and imagine the possibilities. Brainstorm…what’s possible? What are new and perhaps untried ways? What if…

Nothing hinders creativity more than disregarding ideas, criticism, or the possibility of looking silly. Give yourself and/or your team the freedom to experiment, make mistakes, even look a little foolish! Maybe even fail!

Ideas spur on ideas, so let them flow!

3. Set Yourself Up to Be Creative

Creativity vanishes when you are tired, lacking margin, and not caring for yourself properly. When you get the rest, space, and care you need, you are much more creative!

4. Embrace Tools

Left to your own devices, you’ll approach challenges the same way you always have! However, if you want to shed new light on the situation, I encourage you to embrace tools.

Here are a few tools to consider implementing whether you are working solo or with a team:

Hats

Choose three to five people who wear hats that are quite different, such as a fireman, baseball player, cowboy, magician, and king.

Don’t like those options? What about an astronaut, college grad, jester, nun, or motorcyclist? Then consider the perspective each of those hat wearers would have in light of the challenge you are looking to solve.

For example, the fireman’s perspective would be one of safety, speed, and serving. The baseball player would have a competitive angle. Use the info you glean from each hat wearer to creatively come up with new possibilities.

A Solution Circle

Have each team member jot down a brief solution to the problem on a piece of paper. Next, pass the papers around to the right. After reading the solution written on the paper, build on that idea and add any new ideas that come to mind. Continue passing the papers and adding ideas and suggestions until the papers have made it full circle.

Then read through the solutions described and discuss them. This method has the advantage of drawing out those quieter types and ensuring that their ideas are heard. How the ideas all come together – that depends on how you facilitate the discussion.

100 Ideas

Do this exercise solo or with a team by quickly write down 100 possible ideas or solutions. This can be done with pen and paper, on the computer, your phone, or as a team on sticky notes. Be sure to number the ideas to make discussing and referencing the ideas easier.

Capture Your Ideas

Sometimes the best solutions come to you in the shower, while driving to work, or on your morning walk. Having a system for capturing those ideas is priceless! A small notebook or journal works. For the techy types, use your phone or computer. The goal is to have one place to record your brilliant thoughts!

Whole Brain Thinking

Tap into fresh perspectives by considering your situation from the lens of the four different thinking preferences that add up to “whole brain” thinking. Odds are pretty good that you ignore the areas that you don’t prefer to think in so this exercise is sure to stretch you!

Simply divide a sheet of paper into four quadrants as shown and brainstorm using the various categories as your guide. Use the guide that best fits your situation.

Harness the Power of AI

Present your dilemma to one of the many AI tools out there and see what it comes up with. You might be surprised at how it jump-starts your creativity!

5. Strengthen Your Creativity Muscle

Without regular use your creativity muscle won’t be strong enough to serve you when you need it most. What creative activities are you currently engaged in? It doesn’t have to time consuming. In fact, even doodling for a few minutes stirs up your creativity! Here are a few more ways to strengthen your creative muscles today:

• • • Door Knock Dinner – Come up with something new to prepare for dinner using just the ingredients you have in the pantry.
    • 30 Circles Exercise – Draw 30 circles on a sheet of paper – they don’t have to be perfect. Turn each circle into something different. For example, one circle might be a bunny, another circle a clock, etc.
    • Sketch it! – Draw something on your desk – a paper clip, stapler, or pen. Take it a step further by coming up with ten or more different ways to create one of those items.
    • Color – Yes! Adult coloring books provide quick ways to ignite your creativity with color choices, shading, experimenting with different mediums, and more! For even more fun, try reverse coloring!
    • Paint – Pinterest is brimming with painting ideas– check it out! Not to mention hordes of other creative projects.
    • Write a Song – You don’t even have to be a skilled musician! Just write new lyrics to a familiar tune. A memorable moment, something you’ve learned, or a little something about someone you admire are all possible subjects for your song. Not inspired by music? Write a story or poem instead.
    • Make It NEW! Take something you do regularly such as lead a meeting, exercise, or pay the bills and find a way to spice it up!
    • Dance – Put on some music and just move!

6. Go to the Source

Last, but certainly not least, go the One who is the very source of creativity: God. Regularly connecting with Him stirs up your creativity like nothing else!

Approaching life and work more creatively won’t just happen. You will most likely need to step out of your comfort zone and be willing to approach life and work differently. It’s worth the time and effort! Plus, creativity spurs on creativity. You might say it breeds like bunnies!

What stirs up your creativity? How would more creativity benefit you?

© Can Stock Photo / alphaspirit