According to Merrian-Webster online, creative is defined as

1: marked by the ability or power to create : given to creating the creative impulse
2: having the quality of something created rather than imitated : imaginative the creative arts
3: managed so as to get around legal or conventional limits creative financing; also : deceptively arranged so as to conceal or defraud creative accounting
- cre·a·tive·ly adverb
- cre·a·tive·ness noun

I have so many friends and loved ones that don’t believe they are creative. My opinion on the matter, is that you don’t have to be a designer/artist to be creative. Do you think you’re creative? If not, keep reading, for I’d like to show just how creative the women in my life really are. You could be just like them or maybe reading about their creativity will help you see it within yourself.

All my life I’ve been told that I’m creative. And yet, I don’t believe I’ve done something overly amazing to be labeled creative. So there must be something simple that constitutes creativity. I believe we all have the “ability or power to create.” Yes, I love to draw and paint, but there is more to being creative than the visual arts. You don’t have to be an artist to be creative. I just began painting a couple years ago, and though I have no formal training, painting was just something I knew was in me and that I had to try.

Choosing to create or learn something new is being creative. I have a sister-in-law that is “the party planner.” She plans amazing parties. Recently, she threw a Culinary Arts School party for her 6 year old daughter. The kiddos decorated cake boxes, made their own pot pies, decorated a cake after a cake walk, played a guessing game featuring kitchen gadgets, as well as other fun activities. They each went home with their own handmade apron and a compilation of recipes. Truly Creative.

And then there is one of my best friends who is such “the bargain hunter.” She can find a deal (or several), in multiple stores around town. Pulling together a fabulous, inexpensive outfit is her specialty. Once again: creativity at it’s best.

And how about my other sister-in-law who is super thrifty and a perfect budget-tress? Creative financing is definitely a talent.

My grandmother is your biggest fan…she can find something wonderful in everyone. Seeing in a new way is pure creativity.

My sister and mother are beautiful dancers and movers…creative.

Another best friend is the problem solver. Another creative soul.

Why are so many folks so incredibly creative and the rest of us so dismal when it comes to new ideas and new thoughts? Well, some neuro-scientists believe that when the mind comes to an “Ah Ha!” moment, it gives itself a shot of chemical pleasure, call it a creative caress of mind if you will. If this is so, and I believe it is after all my studies on the subject, why not reward yourself when you get new ideas or come up with cool concepts?

How about this; every time you have an original thought why not reward yourself with something that you enjoy. Go out of your way to take a warm bath, a ride on your motorcycle, or go out to eat at your favorite restaurant? Amazingly enough, if you do this you will find that you will have other great innovative thoughts while enjoying such activities so take a pen and paper to stop and write them down.

By rewarding your achievement each time you come up with a creative idea, you will be rewarding your behavior in a positive way. This also works well if you are in charge of a creative team, one which must produce and keep producing to stay in business. Some people get rather miffed when they learn about how some companies handle their most creative employees, and I am sure you have heard the stories of just insane things going on at work.

Self-hypnosis can provide creative thinking help to help you design new approaches to various situations. Whether you are seeking support for creativity or thought, hypnosis is a wonderful guide to think about. Your mind is a vast resource and you can create great things through it.

Mind and Creativity

Your mind creates all the time. You are just not aware of it. Your conscious thought processes are readily apparent but your subconscious mind is mysterious. Think about your dreams and consider how vivid and filled with unusual images they are. You can draw aspects of your dreams into your waking state.

The ability to create through the mind is a gift that should be utilized fully. Creative thinking help is important if you feel that your mind has more potential than it reveals.

How Self-Hypnosis Works

Your mind functions on many levels. Your thought processes power all your core beliefs, actions and creative outlets. Your conscious state has some limitations. This realm is direct and it depends on the inner workings of your subconscious.

You function on various states of consciousness. For example, when you are taking an exam, you are in the beta state. This is a highly concentrated, alert frame of mind.

When you are under hypnosis, you enter the alpha state. This state functions differently. This is the realm of sensation, emotive forces and core beliefs. When you seek creative thinking help in the alpha state, you are tapping into these creative resources.

Untapped Potential

Your subconscious mind is creating all the time. When you tap this resource, you unveil a source of ideas and imagination. Your imaginative processes are often repressed by the conscious mind. You can use self-hypnosis to delve into your imaginative thinking patterns that you may not have accessed since you were a child.

Using Imagination to Develop Imagination

Self-hypnosis encourages you to use your imagination in order to access your subconscious mind. You develop visualization skills through the process. This is wonderful practice as you design a new pattern of creativity. You become inspired through the process of entering a hypnotic state.

As you practice imagination, you strengthen your ability to use your imagination on demand. Your subconscious helps you create a flow of thought that isn’t stifled or repressed. Imaginative thought is bound to create.

Different Type of Creativity

You may want to use self-hypnosis for creativity for various reasons. You don’t have to be an artist or poet to rely on imagination and inspiration. Creativity is important in many different areas of your life.

Writers have writer’s block, bloggers have blogger’s block and creative folks have dry spells, which spells crisis for their creative activities. Ask any artist and they will tell you that they can only create when they are in the right mood. Okay, so the question is what do they need to do to get into that mood? Why can’t writers, bloggers and artists write, blog and paint all the time with the same fervor and creativity?

Well, the reality is and you probably guessed it; is that they actually can, but don’t. The best way to overcome writer’s block is to start writing, writing anything, allowing the creative juices to flow. The best way to overcome blogger’s block and I know what you are saying, you are laughing at the whole blogger’s block syndrome, but it is real, you can ask any persnickety blogger and they will tell you about it; anyway the best way to overcome blogger’s block is to just start blogging.

So, then it makes sense for a painter, sculpture or architectural designer to just start painting, sculpting or designing write, I mean right? Yes, exactly. Just start creating, and if that sounds too difficult, look at pictures of what other painters, designers or sculptors have done and start asking; “What If?”

Do you want to be more creative? Would you like to come up with the next greatest invention? You can you know, there is nothing stopping you. In fact, I’ve been trying out different techniques to supercharge my own creativity for years, read 25 books on the subject, countless articles and at least 50 research papers.

Did all this studying pay off? Yes, actually it did, I went for a 3-year period and had 2 original thoughts each and every day.

Others have asked me to teach them these concepts for supercharging their creativity and unfortunately, I found I did not have the patience to teach humans how to do things, instead, I decided to write a few articles on the subject and perhaps you might benefit from them?

It is my contention that everyone has the potential to be creative or as many like to call it; “think outside the box.” You can do it, as well or even better than I, indeed, I am sure of it. The best way I have found to supercharge your creativity is to vary your activities. Each day go out of your way to talk to people you would normally not even say more than “hello” to.

Read things you may never in a million years be interested in and while doing it enjoy the discovery of such things. For instance, the other day I read 20 research papers on Bee Hives and all about bees. Go to a thrift store and buy 30 non-fiction books on all various types of subjects. Try to find things you do not know about, discover interesting tid bits.

What do you picture when you think of someone highly creative?

Do you think of a musician onstage in the throes of performance? A painter with her dancing brush bringing life to a blank canvas? A photographer with sophisticated and expensive equipment capturing perfect landscape shots?

Most of us equate being creative with those in the classic and traditional arts. Like the musician, the painter, the photographer, and so on. Yes of course these are all creative careers. But what we then do is allow our thinking to discount all other kinds of creativity.

We convince ourselves that unless we ourselves take part in one of these classic creative pursuits - and unless we’re hugely talented in them - then we can’t possibly consider ourselves as a creative person.

The fact is, these artistic careers are only a tiny proportion of what we can consider to be creative.

What about the young mother who entertains her three children all day, prepares a different delicious meal every night and balances her partner’s business accounts?

Or the local gardener that takes neglected weed riddled gardens and turns them into glorious multi sensory environments?

Or the internet entrepreneur who has websites, products and courses in 7 different specialised areas, and is about to launch their 8th, 9th and 10th ventures?

Creativity is not an expensive suit than only a chosen few are allowed to wear.

Creativity is everyone’s right and can be everyone’s daily uniform. How you choose to explore and express your creativity is completely up to you. But it begins with recognising that you are creative in many different ways, and many times each day.

Creativity is a way of thinking, seeing, being, doing. It’s not a title on your business card. It’s so much deeper, more expansive and more encompassing than that. It’s in your blood, your breath, your DNA.

Choose to acknowledge your creativity from this point on.

Simply saying “I am creative and I choose to create” many times over will shift your thinking drastically. Following that thinking up with the actions to match will ensure you’re a creative artist - in your own unique way - for the rest of your life.