Success Advice
How Creativity Leads to a More Successful Life
![creativity](https://addicted2success.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/How-Creativity-Leads-to-a-More-Successful-Life.jpg)
Human beings are curious, inquisitive and creative. We have a deep desire to make meaning of our world and each other by creating. Each culture brings new ideas and meaning to gain a sense of belonging and purpose. Success comes from understanding your contribution to the world and the spark of this contribution comes from a creative place. Understanding the power that comes from creativity can help to elevate you in many ways.
Mary Lou Cook said, “Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun.” Having fun is part of the human experiment that not only provides a sense of purpose, but builds our humanity and scales our ability to succeed. Too many of us don’t allow ourselves a creative outlet or space because we don’t see the value in it if it doesn’t lead to a specific outcome.
Creativity is ever more important in today’s connection economy, because it is the outcome. As the world continues to race toward innovation, faster, cheaper, and quicker, are what distinguishes us from the crowd in terms of individual creative contribution. The more we share and create, the more we find out how valuable this concept is. Creativity cannot be outsourced, it must be cultivated, challenged, and inspired by human curiosity.
Below are 4 ways in which creativity leads to a more successful life:
1. Creativity Creates Deeper Connection to Work
Creativity is the act of experimenting and learning about what works and what may not. When we see creativity as a part of our work and not something left to a small artistic elite then we can create a deeper connection to the work we are meant to do in the world. If we see work as a part of our bigger purpose then our success will increase when we spend time being creative.
The more your creative footprint can be seen, understood, and felt, the more impact you will have. If you see an opportunity to think outside of the box in a particular situation because you see the world differently than your peers, then you have the edge to provide value that no one else can. And, guess what? Each one of us sees the world differently as part of our own uniqueness.
You already possess that special edge even if you were unsure of it before now. If you constantly avoid sharing your creative thoughts you are resisting your inner talents and hiding from the possibilities that lie within the power of your creativity.
“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” – Dorothy Parker
2. Incorporate More Creativity into Your Life
One of the ways you can grow in your ability to bring creativity in your life is to spend time having a “What if” mentality. Spending quality time wondering, dreaming and not stressed about the consequences of being wrong can be freeing.
If what we created wasn’t judged or had no real consequence beyond an act of wonder, we might dream up new solutions to old problems. Elon Musk allowed this “What if” mentality wondering what if he created a company that would make commercial space flight possible? His company is built not around what is, but what might be.
By bringing this sense of wonder and playfulness into our work, life and contribution, we can let go of some of the self-imposed limits we have placed on our own success. If we treat our work and life a bit more like play, we will see a growth in our ability to perform and contribute even more to the already exciting and wonderful world we live in.
3. Opportunity for New Thinking
Sometimes when we are working on a project, either in a team or solo, we might find that we are hitting a wall with a project or in finding a solution to a problem. Instead of looking for the answer, sometimes we need to allow our creative brain to play and search for answers that might be hidden.
By hidden, I mean not yet created. Take some time to remove yourself from the work at hand and just wonder. Consider ways that might seem impossible to do but might spark new ideas. New learning can come from adding two crazy ideas together or taking an old idea and making a wild new way of thinking about it.
For example, posing a question and just wondering about a solution might spark a solution that was not seen. How might we improve the passenger boarding process at the airport so that we can foresee new ideas that were not there before.
“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” – Pablo Picasso
4. Create New Learning Pathways and Increase Brain Activity
When we are creative, we start to open our minds to new thinking. We begin to see new thinking and opportunities that we didn’t notice before. We also silence our amygdala or our lizard brain that is often in fight or flight mode to protect us.
When we are in a state of creative flow we silence the need to protect ourselves and find more peace and openness to new ideas and success. Try drawing on paper using colors, images and textures to visually create and noodle over ideas.
By using colors and a variety of mixed media aside from computers, smartphones and other electronics, you will invite a playful, often semi-dormant, part of your subconscious mind to work in upping your creativity game. The subtle connections and associations that occur in our brains when we use visualization can lead us to embark on new discoveries and success.
How has using your own creativity helped you succeed? Let us know in the comments below!
Image courtesy of Twenty20.com
Success Advice
How AI Shook Up My Business and Made Me a Market Leader
AI is becoming the biggest disruptor across most service-based industries
![ai in business](https://addicted2success.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/How-AI-Shook-Up-My-Business-and-Made-Me-a-Market-Leader.png)
Change is an intimidating prospect for many, especially when it disrupts our established ways of working and living. Yet, within every challenge lies the seed of opportunity. (more…)
Success Advice
The Crucial Part You’re Missing in Your Goal Setting Process
When it comes to goal-setting the highest indicator of success is your execution rate
![goal setting](https://addicted2success.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Crucial-Part-Youre-Missing-in-Your-Goal-Setting-Process.png)
When it comes to goal-setting the highest indicator of success is your execution rate. It has been said that a goal without a plan is a dream; and so it’s no wonder we’re told to write down our visions and make them plain. (more…)
Success Advice
How to Build Character That Guarantees Lasting Success
Your character is what sets you apart from others
![building character](https://addicted2success.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/How-to-Build-Character-That-Guarantees-Lasting-Success.png)
It is easy to get caught up in the idea that success is solely based on one’s abilities and talents. While it is true that having skills and talent can take you far in life, it is ultimately your character that determines how long you stay at the top. (more…)
Success Advice
6 Powerful Tips to Supercharge Your Small Online Business
Success within the online business community is certainly no easy task.
![how to grow an online business](https://addicted2success.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/6-Powerful-Tips-to-Supercharge-Your-Small-Online-Business.png)
Success within the online business community is certainly no easy task. This achievement will require time, patience, insight, and the ability to grow from mistakes that will inevitably be made. However, the end result is undoubtedly worth the effort.
(more…)
-
Life4 weeks ago
How to Have the Audacity to Pursue Your Greatest Potential
-
Success Advice4 weeks ago
How to Master Your Money and Build a Better Future
-
Life3 weeks ago
Overworked and Stressed? This Can Save Your Sanity
-
Life3 weeks ago
If You Have This Attachment Style It’s Killing Your Success
-
Success Advice3 weeks ago
Leadership Lessons All Future Leaders Need to Know
-
Success Advice2 weeks ago
6 Powerful Tips to Supercharge Your Small Online Business
-
Entrepreneurs2 weeks ago
How Entrepreneurs Are Retaining Top Talent
-
Success Advice2 weeks ago
How to Build Character That Guarantees Lasting Success
1 Comment