Introduction

How often do you allow yourself to just let go and be creative? To explore new ideas and experiences? For many of us, creativity is stifled by our day-to-day lives. We are so bogged down by work, family obligations, and other distractions that we don't have time for creativity. But what if creativity was the key to unlocking your inner genius? What if creativity could help you achieve your goals and dreams? In this blog post, we will discuss the sources of creativity, different types of creativity, and how to unleash your inner genius!

What Is Creativity

Some people think creativity is just about art or painting, but it’s so much more. Creativity is about coming up with new ideas and innovative ways of thinking. It is the ability to see things coming down the pipeline or merely from a different vantage point.

To press into this further, being creative is a state of mind that encompasses a receptivity to new ideas and experiences. While some people may be inherently more creative than others, we believe creativity is something that can be cultivated and encouraged.

Sources of Creativity

Creativity comes from many different sources, but there are different types of creativity, so the sources will be different for each. One type of creativity is “artistic”, which manifests in fields like music, painting, and writing. Another is “scientific” creativity, which refers to the ability to come up with new hypotheses and ideas in fields like mathematics, engineering, and medicine. And finally, there is “social” creativity—the capacity to come up with new ways to solve problems and improve the world around us.

Here are a few common ways to initiate creative abilities for all three listed above:

• Exposure to new experiences: When you expose yourself to new cultures, lifestyles, and points of view, you open yourself up to new possibilities. Travelling is one great way to do this, but there are many others. Reading books, watching movies, and even talking to new people can all help you see the world in different ways.
• Challenging yourself: If you're not challenging yourself, you're not growing. And if you're not growing, you're not being creative. So push yourself out of your comfort zone on a regular basis. Take on new projects, learn new skills, and put yourself in new situations.
• Asking questions: One of the best ways to stimulate creativity is to simply ask more questions. Why is this? Why not? What if? How can I? By constantly questioning the status quo, you open yourself up to new and better ideas.

Creativity can be sparked by a problem you are trying to solve, or from your interactions with other people, or better yet, from nature. It’s a big mixture of external and internal influences.

Divergent vs. Convergent Thinking

Creativity thinking requires both divergent and convergent thinking.

Divergent Thinking:

is thinking that generates new ideas, and generates many different solutions to a problem.

• Diverge: to separate from another route, especially a main one, and go in a different direction
• Often associated with creative, right-brain thinking
• This can be done by brainstorming, mind mapping, and journaling. Brainstorming is a process of generating ideas by free association—thinking of anything and everything that comes to mind without censoring or judging your thoughts.

There are four main components of divergent thinking:

1. Fluency: the ability to generate a large number of ideas‍
2. Originality: the ability to think of new and unusual ideas
3. Flexibility: the ability to come up with different solutions to a problem
4. Elaboration: the ability to add details and refinement to an idea

Convergent Thinking:

is thinking that narrows down and focuses on a single solution.

• Converge: tend to meet at a point
• Often associated with logical, left-brain thinking
• State of mind that seeks to narrow your focus and work within certain parameters
• Again, associated with logic and linearity, and it is the kind of thinking we typically use in everyday life.
• For instance, when we are trying to remember something, we often use convergent thinking to retrieve the information from our memory.
• This type of pin-point thinking is often associated with intelligence and is prized in many academic and professional contexts.

Unleash Your Inner Genius

Creativity is not a luxury—it is a necessity. If you want to unleash your inner genius, there are a few things you can do.

Familiarize Yourself with the Creative Process

The first step in unleashing your genius is understanding the creative process. This process typically consists of four stages:

• Pre-thinking: This is the stage where you gather information and generate ideas.
• Incubation: This is the stage where you let your ideas gestate and percolate.
• Illumination: This is the "aha!" moment, when you have a sudden insight or breakthrough.
• Verification: This is the stage where you take your idea and turn it into reality.

Of course, not all creativity follows this linear path—sometimes you will have your "aha!" moment first, and other times you will cycle back and forth between different stages. But understanding the creative process can help you to become more aware of your own creativity and how to harness it.

Develop Creative Habits

Here are some habits that creative people often share:

• A willingness to play and experiment. Creative people are often curious and open-minded, willing to try new things and explore different possibilities.
• A focus on process, not product. Creative people understand that the journey is more important than the destination. They are more concerned with exploring new ideas and ways of doing things than with getting results.
• A growth mindset. Creative people believe that creativity is not a fixed trait but something that can be developed over time. They understand that creativity is about trying new things and taking risks, and they are always looking for ways to improve their creativity.
• Make time for creativity in your life—set aside some time each day to let your mind wander and explore new ideas.

Final Thoughts

Creativity is not a mystical quality that only a lucky few are born with. It is a state of mind that can be cultivated. Through exposure to new ideas and experiences, creative thinking, and willingness to experiment can engage your inner creativity, unleashing the genius within—thereby, giving you the ability to change the world!