We all have something to say. And how did we get out our thoughts and feelings about the world? By sharing our creations with the world. This could be via any number of mediums — you could create art, music, literature, movies…just about anything! Of course, how you translate your thoughts and feelings into a work of art will depend on the level of your creativity. While everyone can be creative, the results can vary.
While some people think some are born with a genius level of creativity, that’s not the case. The best artists nurture their creativity. Nobody has an infinite well of creativity to draw upon! It must be topped up from time to time.
In this blog, we’re going to run through some of the most effective ways to develop and improve your creativity.
Photo Credit: Isabella Mendes
Feed the Mind
Your mind reflects what you put into it. If you’re only feeding low-value things, such as, say, Facebook posts and television, into your mind, then it won’t come as too much of a surprise if your well of inspiration runs dry. On the other hand, if you’re visiting art galleries, attending concerts, and challenging yourself to read slightly denser books, then you’ll be feeding your mind what it needs. The art that you put into yourself doesn’t have to be in the same medium that you’re trying to find success in. A writer can draw a lot from a visit to an art gallery, for instance.
Dive Deep
While any work of good art will have an impact, you’ll want to dive a little deeper into your medium of choice. They say that you’re the average of the five people that you spend the most amount of time with. When it comes to your creativity, you’ll reflect the level of art that you’re engaging with. It’s a good idea to seek out the very best creators of your medium, both from the past and the present. By engaging with the greatest works, you’ll naturally step up your standards. It’ll show you what’s possible.
Take Off The Tie
A person can have great ideas and have a sense of how they want to translate those ideas into a work of art. But then, when it comes to creation, they can find that they’re struggling to bring their ideas to life. This is normally because they’ve put too much pressure on themselves — it can feel as if you’re wearing a tie. The best works of art happen when it’s just flowing out of the person, and that can’t happen if they’re too stiff. So make sure that you’re loose and in the right frame of mind. There are plenty of ways that you can do this.
One is to find the time you work best. For some people, it’s early morning. For others, it’s at night. Another way is to prevent thinking of your creation as something that must be great or something to be experienced by others. You may produce much better work if you don’t feel that you have to show other people.
Forget Failure
Similarly, another way to take some pressure off your creative process is to forget failure. It’s unlikely that you’re only going to get one shot at creating something. If it doesn’t work out this time, then no problem; you might get it right next time. There’s not a single artist in the world that doesn’t have a misstep from time to time.
Upgrade Your Skills
You might have an intuitive sense of your craft, but it’s unlikely that you know everything. No one does! As such, it can be worthwhile topping up your skills, which will allow you to expand your creativity. There are plenty of people who could produce excellent art but who are held back by a lack of technical know-how. How you upgrade your skills will depend on what you’re trying to create. If you’re a writer, then taking a creative or English writing course will help. If you’re trying to create electronic music, then taking an avid pro tools course will help. Or if you’re simply trying to improve your piano playing skills, then take one of the many online courses currently on offer. The more technically proficient you are, the easier it’ll be to express your thoughts and ideas in the way that you really want.
Connect With Others
Creative people tend to think that they’ve got everything they need to complete work all on their own. But this isn’t really true. There’s much to be said for connecting with other people in your artistic discipline. They can be great resources to bounce your ideas off and to learn about different working processes. You’ll ultimately come to your own way of working that suits your needs, but you’ll find that it’s the words and works of others that helped you along the path.
Get Moving
If you’ve hit a brick wall with your creativity, then consider moving. Going anywhere, in any direction, will likely help. It’s all about expanding your horizons and thinking bigger. For instance, let’s say you’re struggling to complete a track that you feel is close but not quite perfect. If you’re struggling to get things just right, then taking a short trip into nature could be just the thing you need. Momentum breeds more momentum. So get up and get moving — you might be surprised at just how beneficial it can be.
Take a Break
Finally, remember that there’s a lot of value in taking a break from time to time. This is true no matter what you’re doing if you’ve hit a plateau. You might have been writing a thousand words a day for a week, and that’s good, but if it has begun to feel like a slog, then it’ll be better to stop typing. When you’ve stopped, look at doing, well, just about anything else for a while. You’ll find that by giving yourself a little bit of distance, you’ll be topping up your inspiration — and that you’re raring to go once you return.
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