Everyone is Creative

Guest Blog by: Andria Kushan

I’m a creative director by trade – I work at an advertising agency as a writer. Because of the word “creative” in my job title, when I tell people what I do, I inevitably hear some variation of this comment: “I wish I were creative!”

Well, you are. Whether you realize it or not. Everyone is creative. Creativity has been part of us our whole lives and it shows up every day. We all fingerpainted in the 2nd grade. We created handmade birthday cards for our parents. We pick out outfits. We frame, edit, and filter photos on our phones all the time. We write funny social media posts on the daily. We improvise last-minute Halloween costumes and make dinner with the three ingredients we have left in the fridge.

All great examples of being creative. 

The fact is that creativity is something we’re all born with. Some people just develop this innate skill throughout their lives while others let it lay dormant. The most creative people you know have likely put in years of creativity practice, strength-training this muscle, so what may seem a natural gift is a finely honed, well-toned craft.

It’s important to note that there are different types of creativity - and lots of studies that talk about them.

One, in particular, was conducted by Lucy L. Gilson and Nora Madjar at the University of Connecticut, who argue that there are two main sorts of creativity: radical and incremental. Radical creativity describes those original, groundbreaking ideas that are brought into the world and blow people’s minds. Incremental creativity is about building on existing ideas. Think of it as the difference between revolutionary and evolutionary.

Ironically this idea is nothing new – just ask Mark Twain, who said:

“There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations. We keep on turning and making new combinations indefinitely, but they are the same old pieces of colored glass that have been in use through all the ages.”

When I write product copy, for example, I may be writing about features that aren’t entirely new, but I may write them in a way that has never been written before. All the words come from the same alphabet.

To me, being creative is practicing the art of seeing things differently. There are a ton of practical uses for this skill that we use every day: conflict resolution, problem-solving, or negotiating with a two-year-old mid-tantrum.

When I get stuck (otherwise known as writer’s block), I rely on some techniques to help me push through the pain of stagnancy. Here are some techniques to help flex that creative muscle so it doesn’t atrophy. Feel free to use them in both personal and professional settings. 

1. Get your brainstorm on

I love a good, old brainstorm. The energy and ideas that bounce around a room full of people can crack open new ways to tackle tough problems. The magic happens when you follow the rule  – NO JUDGING. Judging shuts people’s creative faucets off, and no one likes a judger. Enough said.

2. Don’t try to be perfect

First of all, no one is perfect. Second, creativity is not a science. Otherwise, it would be called biology. It’s a practice that is successful when you let yourself be imperfect, wrong, and vulnerable. So explore things you don’t think feel right. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and you might be surprised at the ideas you come up with.

3. Journal or doodle.

If it was good enough for Thomas Edison, who journaled every morning, it’s good enough for you. You don’t have to be a writer or an artist to do this. It’s not about the result, it’s about the process. It’s also been proven to relieve stress, improve memory and jumpstart creative thinking. Take that, coffee.

4. Unplug

Step away from the technology. Do not open Instagram. Turn off notifications. Block your calendar. Freeze your phone in a block of ice. Whatever it takes! Once you get the creative juices flowing, the last thing you want is to be interrupted. Otherwise, you might find yourself at midnight with a deadline that was five hours ago and now you’re trying to be creative in a complete state of stress. Not good.

5. Dopamine load

Here’s where a little science helps the creative process. Research shows that the areas of the brain that produce dopamine also produce creativity. Increase your dopamine levels and you’ll increase your creativity. You can do this by listening to music, meditating, breathing in some fresh air and sunshine, filling your body with healthy food – or anything that makes you happy.

 6. Aerobicize (leg warmers optional)

Do we need to cover this one? Fact: thirty minutes of aerobic exercise has been found to increase your ability to think creatively. You don’t have to go into beast mode – a simple walk around the block will do.

7. Sleep on it

My process always involves some time away from the task. If I notice myself struggling to find words or slowing down, I know I’ve hit a wall. In these moments, I just need to walk away from the project for a while. This is also how to edit. A surprising amount of the time, I think I’ve nailed it, but after a good sleep, I realize I didn’t. I’ve realized over the years that creativity is a process – and you can’t rush it.

8. Listen

A good idea can come from anyone. A random person walking down the street. A podcast. a sitcom. A person whose job title doesn’t have the word “creative” in it. I always tell my team to “check your ego at the door” – why? Because no one owns ideas, and everyone is creative! The trick is to recognize the idea and use it in a different way.

9. Know when you’re at your best

Figure out when you’re most creative and do creative things during that time. I work best in the morning – when I’ve gotten good sleep and my stress level is not at level 100. My brain gets tired towards the end of the day, so I try to block time in the morning to get my best ideas flowing.

So, the next time you feel stuck and are wondering how to solve (insert problem here), just tap into the creativity you were born with -– even if it’s not in your job title.

Acknowledgement from Kendall: You can learn more about Andria and her work via LinkedIn here. In case you were wondering, Andria brilliantly wrote the web copy for The Discovery Well. Kendall is grateful for years of friendship and her contribution to realizing the dream of The Discovery Well. Thank you, Andria!!