Open Your Creative Mind

There are all sorts of situations where creative thinking comes into play.

Generally, we might associate creative thinking with art: writing a story, creating a painting, or composing music, for example.  In reality, creative thinking is something that even the lay person uses on a daily basis, especially when it comes to problem solving.

When you find yourself in a quandary about how to solve a dilemma or create your next masterpiece, here are some powerful creative thinking techniques that can get the ideas flowing.

The Random Element

One problem we often face when trying to solve a problem is that we tend to think in a straight line. 

The Random Element Technique allows us to take our mind in different directions to hit on solutions that may have never occurred to us using a more conventional approach.

To use this technique, start by defining your problem.

For example, let’s say that you are having trouble getting along with a coworker.  Look around you and find something completely unrelated to your situation, say a jar of jellybeans on your desk.  What kind of inspiration can you get from applying that jar of jellybeans to your problem?

Some possibilities include:

• Jellybeans are sweet.  Maybe I need to…

Escape clutter mountain. Find your freedom.

Many of us spend a lot of time at a desk.

Whether your desk is in a corner office with a view, in a row of cubicles or in a crowded corner at home, chances are good that you haven’t given a lot of thought to how your office space is arranged.  Even if your office is not your ideal, you don’t have to feel that you’re stuck with it.

There are small changes you can make to any workspace that will make it a more enjoyable and productive place to work.

The first place to start is by looking at the amount of clutter in your workspace.

Unless you’re diligent about keeping things neat, it’s easy to end up with a workspace that’s full of clutter.

The proliferation of communication methods has made it easier to communicate, but it’s also increased the amount of information to track.  Post-it notes, documents and email printouts are great ways to keep on top of deadlines and commitments, but it’s easy for this paperwork to start taking over your desk.

When the paperwork starts to push you out of your workspace and your productivity is suffering, it’s time to declutter your desk.

Here’s a roadmap…

Have you ever ridden down a steep hill on a bicycle?  You most likely found that all of your focus was on the bike, the wind rushing past, and the road beneath you.  The experience was purely exhilarating and there was no room for doubt or anxiety.

What do successful artists, chess players and athletes have in common with that downhill bike ride?  According to psychologists who study human creativity and happiness, they know how to focus on an enjoyable activity and tap into this feeling of exhilaration on a regular basis.

Psychologist Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi has given a name to experiences which are characterized by this energized type of focus – “flow.”  The name is a metaphor for the sense of effortless action that comes with intense focus.  Immersion in almost any activity can bring flow.  Even work can lead to moments of flow when we learn to focus on the aspects of the job that we enjoy most.

More than the pursuit of pleasure or possessions, successive periods of flow make up a happy life. Concentrating on an activity to the extent that time and the self is forgotten, we feel that we have become part of…

Ignite the creative spark within you.

One of the things that really sets humans apart from the other animals on this planet is our capacity for creative thought.

Not only is it a necessity for the advancement of the species (after all, someone had to come up with the idea for harnessing the power of fire), but it brings us a lot of enjoyment, too.  Why else would we spend so much of our time and energy reading books, decorating our homes, or listening to music?

It can be argued that creativity is something that is divinely inspired, that some people “have” it and some people don’t.

The fact of the matter is that we all possess the ability to think creatively. Sometimes, however, we need a little spark to get us started.  (Just like the person who decided to bring fire into the cave!)

“The world is but a canvas to the imagination.”  Henry David Thoreau

Whether you’re trying to stretch your limits or you’ve just found yourself with a bit of a mental block, here are several exercises that can help get your creative juices flowing.

1. Brainstorm. When faced with a challenge, solutions can seem hard to come by.  Let yourself see that…

Hit the target with accurate productivity.

Productivity isn’t something that generally just happens. We have to work at it.  Fortunately, there are quite a few resources out there that can help us find a better way to do something, get motivated to start, or even offer suggestions for how to keep the momentum we’ve built.

While some blogs seem to be a bit of a distraction when we’re really trying to be productive, there are plenty of others that can get us pointed in the right direction.

When reviewing the list I have personally created below, you may notice that many of the best blogs covering productivity also touch on other aspects of self improvement, both physically and emotionally.  It makes sense, as our ability to move forward with our jobs and responsibilities (even the things we enjoy) is dependent on how we feel about ourselves.

Here are 15 “killer” productivity blogs you shouldn’t overlook…

43 Folders – This blog can be a little irreverent, but it offers tips, hints, and suggestions on a wide variety of topics.  Much of the content is geared toward being more productive in your work/creative life.  43 Folders has been around since 2004 and has an incredible amount of information for…

Got Creativity?

For many people, productivity has become the Holy Grail of personal development.  These days, everyone wants to do more and get more value from what they’re doing.  Finding and keeping a job has become serious business, and showing the boss that you’re extremely productive seems like the surest path to success.  As a hedge against job loss, many people are starting side businesses.  Success as an entrepreneur has become a reality for some, but many who aspire to success are unable to find the time and motivation to make things happen.

It takes real creativity to be truly productive and still maintain a balanced life.  Creativity may seem like the antithesis to productivity, since it implies experimentation and inspiration rather than hard work.  But if you spend some time observing successful productive people it will soon become apparent that creativity plays a key role in their approach to life.

Here are three ways that creativity can inspire you to become the productive person you want to be…

1.    Create belief in yourself. Picture yourself as the productive person you want to be and keep that picture in your mind.  Get to know your talents and strengths, believe in them, and let that…