Three Rules of Creativity

Creative Talent - The Archer

I find creating to be the one truly meaningful activity in this life. Is that because I am a "creative person"?

Working with others, the first challenge I face is a mismatch between creative ambitions. I can only speak for myself, but I often perceive my collaborators to hold themselves back. When I start nudging beyond limits, the semi-reluctant rattling from my teammates make it quite clear that resistance isn't coming from a lack of desire or willingness to be creative. No, rather there is this common perception of creativity as a fixed trait, where people view themselves to simply be born without it. It’s not that they don’t want to be creative. It’s that they believe they’re not one of the “creative ones.”

The second challenge I face is that I can’t argue about it, not completely. Research does suggest that some people are naturally more creative than others.

So, why bother writing an article about creativity?

Because the importance of creative talent is just like my book projects: just half a story.

Yes, some people are born imaginative, pulling rabbits out of their hat without any effort. But the conclusion that creativity is entirely out of our hands? That’s a grand misconception. Frustrations about an uneven playing field is both fair and valid, but it doesn't help you with your game.

If you need creativity, then the simplest effective solution usually is to ask a creative person. That's true.

However, if you ever need someone in specific, like yourself, to be more creative, then there are proven ways to increase both potential and performance.

Let's focus on this.

2. Mood > Mind

If you want to think more creatively then you shouldn't begin with thinking at all. It might sound counterintuitive, but the key to discovering genius ideas has less to do with thinking about problems, and more to do with making sure you are in the mood to solve them.

Emotional states play a powerful role in creativity.

The “Broaden and Build” theory states that positive emotions expands our awareness. They increase our mental space, allowing for new ideas and connections to form. In contrast, negative emotions can be narrowing. They push us into survival mode, where whatever's comfortable takes priority over making discoveries.

It makes total sense if you think about it.

Whenever I feel x - I think about y

• Tired - Getting to bed

• Hunger - Contents of my fridge.

• Insecure - Hiding.

• Frustrated - Keeping it together.

Creativity begs for emotional states allowing us to defy gravity. Heavy emotions are anchors keeping us down. Work yourself towards the emotions of a rocket: a bit lighter at first, then have a lift off!

3. Ideas Are a Numbers Game

Behind every single great idea brought to life, there's a creative process involving a spaghetti-bowl of ideas we never got to see. These "spaghetti strands" were cooked at various levels of salt content and time. Some were thrown in whole, while others were broken into pieces. But as we all know when it comes to cooking spaghetti: the most difficult thing is getting the serving amount right. I usually end up with a lot of leftovers after a dinner party, as I wanted to ensure nobody left with an empty stomach.

Creativity is not about getting it exactly right at first attempt. It's all about generating a lots of different ideas.

It's impressive to make it at the first shot. But what makes it so, is it being a such a rare feat. When you want to be successful, would you employ a strategy providing results rarely, just because it is more impressive? I know I wouldn't. Creativity is a long-game, immediately rushing towards the finish line without any preparation does not work in your favor.

Sometimes it takes going sideways, or even backwards, in order to win. In this case, I am referring to how we think.

Cognitive psychology outlines two types of thinking related to this.

3. There Are No Rules—Except This One

The final “rule” of creativity is that… there are no rules.

Let me explain.

Imagine you have a vivid, abstract idea in your mind. You want to bring it to life, you want to paint it. Well, for that, you need a canvas and a frame. But as you are painting your image, your abstract vision of it evolves, you now realize parts of the image needs a lot more space than what your frame allows. So what do you do?

You break it.

I suggest by expanding, reshaping, or replacing it entirely

With a new frame put in place, you may continue with your vision beyond your initial framing. For all you know, it could evolve past the paper canvas it was painted on. Why can't the wall itself act as both the canvas and frame?

This is the dance of creativity. Sometimes you shape your ideas to fit the frame, other times you reshape the frame to fit your ideas. It's like the chicken and the egg, what matters isn't which came first, It's simply knowing that one depends on the other. Get yourself an egg and nurture it into a chicken, or get yourself a chicken and make sure it grows up to start giving you some eggs.

Creativity isn’t about being perfectly bound or endlessly free. However, it does depend on there being an intention to break boundaries. Without limits, there’s nothing to break. Without breaking limits, there’s no creative spark.

Conclusion:

Creativity is like Archery, no two start equally skilled with a bow. Our emotional states are like the string of the bow, optimal condition

of Psychology research on creativity can be broken down into Rules of Creativity.

1. Some happen to have it, while anyone can have more of it

2. Managing emotions is more important than thoughts.

3. An idea is only ever "stupid" if it came alone.

4. There are no rules,

Creativity boils down to one thing:

Making a wish.

If you're reading this, you've already made one.

Now there is nothing to it, but to do it!

• Rested - What to do?

• Satisfied - What to eat for dinner later?

• Confident - How to put myself "out there"?

• Excited - Conquering the world.

The Observatory