Creative thinking refers to the ability of solving problems using new ways and finding different methods of accomplishing your daily tasks . Creative thinking can also lead to new insights and to new visions which will result in achieving your goals and gaining more success.
I Am Not Creative
Lots of people may think that being creative is related to genes or that creative people are gifted but the truth is that we are all creative. Have you ever noticed a child playing?
A child can almost invent a new game out of any object he finds. I am sure that as a child you used to do the same. So if you think that you are not creative then something must have happened to you along the way. This is what we call routine.
Routine and creativity
As children we were all creative but the infinite instructions we received from our parents and the restrictions that were imposed on us in our schools helped in diminishing our creativity.
“Hey, you should not touch this, its hazardous”
“Where is your tie? You cant go to school without it”
“Don’t play there or your hands will become dirty”
“You will work from 9 to 5, everyday, and if you are late for five minutes then better not come”
Moreover, systematic jobs that require you to do the same exact tasks everyday reduce creativity. Strict time tables will do the same to your creativity. Working in closed areas or having a desk job will reduce your creativity too. These restrictions over time will transform you into a single minded person. No wonder why are not as creative as you used to be.
How to Become Creative
you are probably now saying to yourself that its impossible to avoid all of these restrictions. In order to restore your lost creativity you don’t have to avoid routine but you have to have some free time every now and then where you can become creative. For example, you should have one day per week that doesn't have of any kind of restrictions. Don’t put any plans for that day and just let it flow smoothly.
Spending time in open spaces can help you become more creative. Why not spend one day per week at the sea side? Pay visits to natural sights every now and then, This will definitely help you in restoring your creativity .
While working you should take a break and unplug your mind completely for few minutes . Some people spend a lot of free time alone but they never stop thinking about work!!
Some people even take work with them to bed. They just can’t stop thinking about what they are going to do tomorrow and the result is the deterioration of their creative abilities.
Left brain and right Brain
Your brain is divided into two main hemispheres, the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere. The former is responsible for logic and reasoning while the latter is responsible for intuition and creativity.
One of the best things you can do to enhance your creativity is to train both hemispheres to work together. Some people focus on accomplishing tasks that train only their left brains so they end up with no creative abilities. For information on how to use both hemispheres together check out this article.
Creative Thinking
If you want to think of a creative solution for a problem then you must put into consideration the following points:
1-There is no exact solution to a problem, but there is definitely more than one solution to it .
2-False beliefs can limit creativity, for example if you are convinced that you will never find a solution to your problem then you will never find one.
3-Never put restrictions on your thoughts, even if a solution seemed silly or unacceptable just imagine that you have implemented it, this could lead you to a third solution that is both acceptable and logical
4-Break free from the routine at least while thinking for the solution
5-Brainstorming can be very helpful; two unacceptable ideas from your friends can lead you to a third acceptable idea.
6- every now and then do something that you have never done before
7- try to have some free time every now and then
8- sit with creative people,try and see how creative you are in comparison to those people.
Why do we feel bad
If you think the fight you had that morning with your boss or that unpaid bill which is due tomorrow are the only reasons you are feeling bad now then think it over.
Happiness can be described as the absence of bad emotions and while certain recent events, like the ones in the previous example, can spoil your mood still there are other long term factors that could be affecting your mood right now even if you weren't consciously aware of them.
In other words, just like the things you are aware of can make you feel bad the things you are not aware of can also be contributing to your unpleasant mood.
5 reasons you are feeling bad now
1) Unmet goals and dreams: The number one unconscious factor responsible for bad moods is unmet dreams and goals. Do you remember that goal you always longed for? do you remember the dreams you previously had? If you think they don't affect now you just because life went on then you are wrong. Those goals and dreams lie at the back of your mind and are responsible for a great deal of your unexplained bad moods
2)Fears and worries that you never dealt with: The most preferred method for dealing with fears and worries for most people is trying to forget about them, but because those worries are signals designed to stay there as long as you don't take serious actions they will keep you feeling down
3)Carried over guilt: We all feel guilty for the bad things we do but just as there are clear events that cause guilt there are also other subtle ones that could be the reason for prolonged unconscious guilt. If you have been moving against your values since a long period of time or if you have been doing a bad habit since a long time then most probably you are living with unconscious guilt
4) successful Self deception attempts: In many of my previous articles i explained how people sometimes deceive themselves in order to escape from the responsibility. A person who lacks courage to start a private business might claim that he is happy with his job even if he was miserable. Later on that person might believe the lie but his subconscious mind will keep him feeling bad because it can't really accept self deception
5) Lack of understanding of your real needs: Ever tried to do everything to feel happy yet found yourself sad? did you ever wonder why you can't enjoy the things that should have made you happy? If this happened to you then know that you have a self understanding problem. What will happen if you drank when you felt hungry? Of course you wont feel satisfied. Real happiness happens when you understand your real needs and work on satisfying them properly
Take actions now :
If one or more of the previous points describe your life now then you mustn't wait anymore. Start tackling these issues you left behind and you will discover that your mood is improving greatly.
It can't happen in a day or two, it can't happen without effort but the result is worth every drop of sweat you will shed.
by : dr farouk
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