9 Ways to Stimulate Your Creativity

I love creativity - seeing things differently, finding new ways to do old things, discovering new ideas or new approaches to challenges and opportunities. Creativity is one of the hallmarks of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship, and one of the great benefits of engaging in the process of Working for Good - cultivating embodied awareness, engaging in dialogue and collaboration, and fostering integration – as it unquestionably contributes to creativity. My colleague Julie van Amerongen has further reflections on the principle of Creativity below, which you will also find in the 26 Principles of Working for Good eBook at workingforgood.com.

I may jump to the end of the alphabet (we've been working our way from A to Z - with Monday's posts) next Monday with the Principle of Vulnerability, which I keep challenging myself to write - as I am marveling at the power of vulnerability.

Yours in Working for Good,

Jeff

“Creativity is the sudden cessation of stupidity.” ~ Edwin Land

Creativity in the work environment is all about finding the sweet spot in the middle of your right brain’s wild impulses and the left brain’s practicality. From time to time, some of us need a little nudge to get out of the cube and move over to the right side. Here are some ideas you might want to try to stimulate your creativity:

• Drive a different route to work tomorrow, or better yet, bike or walk a different way.
• Collaborate and brainstorm – Fastest way to get unstuck and come up with loads of brilliant ideas (and some wonky ones too!).
• Go for a walk. Moving stimulates our mind. For that matter, stretch, hula hoop, dance… just get moving.
• Combine the above and go for a brainstorming walk!
• You don’t have a problem, just a solution waiting to happen. Meditate on it.
• Solicit advice. How would your hero solve the problem? A child? Someone already Working for Good?
• Start work really early. Or really, really late.
• Use color. How come we all write or type in black or blue? Boring! And while you’re at it, doodle throughout.
• Stay awake! Combine your rational thought with your creative explorations and watch the magic unfold.

“The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.” ~ Alan Alda

LINKS
Want More? Ten Ways to Get Creative at Work
The Corporate Mystic: A Guidebook For Visionaries With Their Feet on the Ground by Gay Hendricks
Creativity in Business by Michael Ray