At Work

Cultivating Creativity

Read the following text and get ready to discuss it

Lesson 3 Psychology in action

Many of us are creative in our daily lives, in ways that impact us and those around us. Occasionally, someone makes a discovery or creates a work of art that changes our culture. Children from about age 4 to 7 are usually at a developmental stage where they are bursting with creativity. What makes some of us more creative than others?

All human brains are very much alike. However, some of us choose to use our resources, such as free time, in more creative ways. How your creativity manifests itself is based on your personality and life experience, your knowledge, the environment you work and play in, and your culture. You can influence or change these variables to increase your creativity. Everyone has creative potential. The following are suggestions for developing creativity in your life.

a) Read. Read anything that sparks your interest. If you have access to a library, use it. There are books on practically every topic you can imagine.

b) Become more curious. Look at the world around you with an open mind. Have you ever closely examined the leaves on a tree? Or taken apart an old radio or clock?

c) Try something new. Often people assume that they could never participate in certain activities – "I could never do that!" If you think you can't draw, but haven't tried since you were 10, or have never been taught how to draw, how do you really know?

d) Change your personal space. Make your home, or room, or car, an expression of yourself. If you feel comfortable and happy with your surroundings, you are more apt to be creative

e) Pay attention to your emotions. What makes you happy, sad, excited?

f) Make time to be creative, and vigilantly guard this time. Examine your daily routines to see if you can simplify or do away with anything to make more time for creativity. Often, simplifying routines is a creative act itself.

If you are trying to find solutions to a problem

a) define the problem on paper. This will make it clearer in your mind, and often this alone will bring to mind solutions.

b) Think of an opposite or really far-out solution to a problem, or turn the problem around: No one is paying attention to what I tell them vs. I'm not paying attention to what they say (I'm not communicating effectively).

c). Don't assume you know the best solution. Consider all types of solutions before settling on one.

d). Be willing to change your strategy along the way. New information or circumstances often require a change in plans. Flexibility is a key to creativity.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-27