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They say that everyone has the ability to create, that we are all creative beings.
I didn’t always believe this to be true because I always thought of creatitiy as being artisitc , emphasis on “art.” Definitely not my thing.
If the main thing that is stopping you from being creative is that you don’t think you have the creative trait, you need to change how you approach this. Creativity isn’t always about art, as the next five points are going to prove: it is about opening your mind to new ideas, looking at things from a different angle to find a solution. You Can Be Creative. Even If You Think You Are Not. On June 6, 2017 June 5, 2017 By Robert Evenhouse In Creative.%d bloggers like this. You think through a couple of solutions, you stop thinking about it for a while, an idea hits you, and you try it out. If it works, that’s great, and if it doesn’t, you go through the process. Another idea: keep a notebook with you for a week and jot down a note each time you notice creativity around you. Think beyond the typical channels of creativity (like art and visual design) but also look out for creativity shared in conversation, in the messages you see online or in print, or in the everyday objects you use.
In fact, I’m one of the few people I know who stresses out at Painting With a Twist. And crafting projects, those “easy” ones designed to re-purpose every day household items into some beautiful, functional object, tend to put me in a bad mood.
When it comes to being innovative and creative, I always thought:
- It’s not my thing.
- I don’t know what I’m doing.
- It’s never going to look right.
Words have power.
How To Think Like A Creativeeven If You&rsquo Re Not Like
I didn’t think about how that negative mindset further inhibited my already tentative creativity.
My creativity was listening to that negative self-talk!
To get past the negative self-talk enough to be able to own my creative capabilites, I had to let go of 2 things:
Expectations, for the outcome, the experience, and the response to it
![How To Think Like A Creativeeven If You’re Not How To Think Like A Creativeeven If You’re Not](/uploads/1/2/9/3/129311376/506428808.jpg)
Self-judgement, which doesn’t allow for compassion, understanding, and kindness
Letting go of expectations and self-judgement have allowed me to explore my creativity and stop comparing myself an my abilities to others.
![How to think like a creativeeven if you&rsquo re not take How to think like a creativeeven if you&rsquo re not take](/uploads/1/2/9/3/129311376/184026393.jpg)
It was hard at first.
When I started to crochet, my practice swatches never looked like the swatches the YouTube crocheters made. But I kept at it.
Now, after a year of lots of trial and error, I’ve learned that I can start with the intention of making one thing and end up making something totally different, like when I started making a vest and it turned into a bag.
I’m not sure if we’re born with different levels of creativity or if we all have enormous potential for it, but I now believe creativity and the ability to create has less to do with talent and more to do with mindset.
Here are some things to think about to help you get past the self judgement and start flexing your creative muscles.
It’s for you.
Creativity is as individual as you are. What would you want to create? Do you feel drawn toward writing, painting, woodworking, interior design, gardening, photography, paper making, pottery, soap making, cooking, music…? Dabble in it. Try it out.
If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do and think, I could never do that, then ask yourself, Why not? What you create is for you and doesn’t need to be shared with anyone unless you decide to share it.
Do it for the sake of the experience.
Failure is part of the process.
Your first attempt may not come out as you expected or as you envisioned. That’s okay! Don’t let that stop you from continuing if you enjoy doing it. You’ll get better if you stick with it.
For more on this idea, read Embrace the Beginner’s Mindset
Start small.
Especially if you’re dabbling into something you think you might like but don’t know for sure, start small. It can be very discouraging to pour money and effort into a project you’re not ready for.
Baby steps. Start with the basics and then build on those to the next level.
Do it your way.
There are helpful kits, patterns, and about a gazillion instructional videos about “How To” do almost anything. Use them to help you get started. Or you can hire a coach, take a class, read a book, phone a friend. Whichever way helps you get started and/or to the next level.
How To Think Like A Creativeeven If You&rsquo Re Not Still
We are all creative beings, even if we don’t really think creativity is our thing.
Letting go of expectations and self-judgement allows each of us to engage in the creative process more fully. Being more creative could mean taking an innovative approach to a problem or actually creating something.
Sometimes the first step is letting go of the limiting beliefs that tell us we are not the creative type.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject! What helps you get past expectations and be more creative?
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“I think the best thing to do is make sure you have a cushion and that you can follow up and rebound.”
~ Derek Rodenbeck
Want to know how to stay creative – even when things don’t go to plan?
In this week’s podcast, we catch up with illustrator and comic book artist, Derek Rodenbeck.
Since the last time we spoke, some of his freelance projects have been going really well. He’s almost finished the comic book he was working on, and he’s even picked up some extra jobs in between.
However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing. The one big project he was working on fell through, meaning Derek has lost out on one of his major income streams for the year ahead.
So what do you do when something like this happens? And how can you stay creative when life throws you a curveball? Read on to find out how Derek is rolling with the punches and adapting to change…
Derek Rodenbeck on how to Stay Creative
As a freelance artist, it’s important to realize that your workflow can often be inconsistent. Sometimes, it seems as if you’ve almost got too much work to handle…and then there’ll be other times when you wonder where the next paid gig is coming from.
Therefore, it’s important to have a ‘Plan B’ in place for when this happens. And, for Derek, that’s exactly where he’s at right now.
So if you want to know how to stay creative when the work dries up, take a leaf out of Derek’s book. Because he’d been there and got the T-shirt!
Currently, his plans include travelling from his native Philadelphia to San Francisco with his wife and faithful hound, Kuma, in tow.
A friend lent Derek a book, Who Moved My Cheese? By Spencer Johnson, which he’s found really useful, because it shows you exactly how you can adapt to changes in your life and still keep moving in the right direction.
He says: “We’re just going to explore nature and creativity, and I’m planning to film the whole thing!”
As they say, when one door closes, another one opens. We can’t wait to hear about Derek’s adventures on the road – stay tuned for regular updates here on Pencil Kings.
Listen to this week’s podcast interview and learn:
- How to have a cushion in place for when things don’t work out
- How to stay creative in any environment
- Why networking and meeting other people is so important
- How to turn that curveball into a new opportunity
We hope Derek’s story helps you keep going when things don’t work out as you planned.
Have you ever had some of the same experiences as Derek? Let us know how you dealt with them in the comment box below – we’d love to hear your story ?
People on this Episode:
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Listen on Stitcher Radio.
Android users can grab our RSS feed here.
Right-click and “save file as” for direct download.
Thanks for listening to our show! We’ll be back next Wednesday morning 8AM EST.
Cheers,
Mitch
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