Kids can be so creative. As adults, we used to be these creative kids, but somewhere along the way we stopped using our imagination and started following the rules. We made sure to do things like everyone else and try to “fit” in. And in the process, we lost something of ourselves – our imagination and creativity. So, how can we get it back? Here are just a few things that we can do to find that inner creative child we used to be.
- Schedule time for play. Most adults feel guilty for spending time doing nothing. We feel that we must be doing “something” all the time and the more productive we are, the better. But whatever happened to that little child you used to be, who would spend hours playing every day? So, go ahead and take some time to play, to paint (even if you never finish it), to go fly a kite or whatever you feel like doing.
- Think about what makes you truly happy. Think about those activities where you loose all track of time or suddenly realize that you have this huge grin on your face and you’re not even faking it.
- Keep a journal. This will help you to discover what makes you happy and gets you excited. Write down things you want to do, things you have tried and how they make you feel when you think about them or do them. Re-read your journal occasionally to find any trends and then go out and do it!
- Try something new and get excited about it. Take a course, learn how to knit or create a scrapbook about your last vacation. Or try doing a variation of what a pattern calls for (try changing a colour or use a different fabric) and see what happens. Nervous about doing a class on your own? Then invite a friend along. Having someone to share your experiences always makes it more enjoyable. The more you enjoy something, the more creative you will be.
- Be open to new ideas. Don’t criticize or censor your thoughts, but follow them and see where they will take you. Let your mind wander. You never know – it may be just the thing you need to help you resolve an issue in your life.
- Think outside the box. Develop some games that encourage you to think about ordinary items and situations in different and unique ways. Play these “mind games” by yourself or with a group of friends. See who can come up with the most unusual ideas. Here’s some mind games that you can try:
- Create a stack of small cards. On each card, write one word about an ordinary object that you would find around your house. Then pick a card at random and try to come up with 5 unusual uses for each word.
- Play a game of word association. Write down a bunch of different words (eg: actions, feelings, objects, etc). Then choose two of these words and say the first word that you can think of that would go with both of the words you choose. For example, if choose the words “foot” and “sing”, then what is the first word that comes into your mind?
- Play a game of “what if”. Make up a situation and explain what you would do. For example, you are moving to the moon and you can only take 5 books with you. What books would you take?
Feeling creative yet? Finding that inner creative you doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it’ll be easier if you try to have some fun in the process. Just open your mind and let the creative juices flow.
Source by Joanne Jones
