We often think of creativity as a rare gift reserved for a select few, but the truth is much more inspiring: creativity is a natural part of being human. If you look back at childhood, you’ll remember a time when your imagination had no borders. As we grow, we don’t necessarily “lose” this skill; rather, we accidentally clutter our minds with “blocks” that stop the flow of new ideas.
By clearing these mental hurdles, you can return to that effortless, child-like way of thinking and find innovative solutions to almost any problem. Here are seven gentle shifts to help you unblock your mind and let your natural brilliance shine through.
1. Release Your Assumptions
We often engage in “lazy thinking,” where we rush to conclusions without gathering all the facts. There is a classic story of a bank customer who cashed a check and realized the teller had made a mistake. When he tried to point it out, the teller dismissively told him that once he walked away, the bank was no longer responsible. The customer simply smiled and kept the extra $20 he had been trying to return. To be truly creative, wait until you have the full picture before drawing a final conclusion.
2. Embrace New Perspectives
A closed mind believes its view is the only reality, but a creative mind knows that others may see something even more valid. Consider the legendary painter Pablo Picasso, who was once confronted by a businessman critical of modern art’s lack of realism. The man showed Picasso a small photo of his wife, saying, “This is how my wife should look.” Picasso looked at the tiny photograph and dryly replied, “She’s very small”. Remember: things aren’t always what they seem, and you don’t have a monopoly on the truth.
3. Calm the “Yo-Yo” of Emotion
It is easy to let your mood swing from extreme highs to crushing lows based on what is happening right in front of you. This “yo-yo thinking” can drain your creative energy. A healthier approach is to remain neutral, understanding that situations are rarely as wonderful or as terrible as they first appear. By staying emotionally steady, you keep the channels of your imagination open.
4. Break Free from Habitual Thinking
Our brains love patterns, but habits can become stumbling blocks to clear thought. For example, if you ask someone to pronounce the names Macdonald, Macpherson, and Macdougall, they will likely mispronounce the word Machinery immediately afterward because their brain has fallen into a “Mac” habit. Don’t assume that because something happened a certain way before, it will always happen that way again.
5. Adopt the Mindset of a Child
Research shows that a two-year-old actually has more neural connections in their brain than the average adult. While adults “sculpt” their worldview by removing possibilities, children accept everything without judgment. By staying curious and passionate about learning, you can actually improve your brain’s power and reverse the aging process of your mind.
6. Balance the Details with the Big Picture
There is a famous poem about six blind men who each touch a different part of an elephant—the tusk, the trunk, the tail—and each comes to a completely different (and wrong) conclusion about what an elephant is. To think creatively, you must keep the “whole elephant” in view while you examine the individual parts. This context ensures everything stays in its proper place.
7. Reclaim Your Independence
Many organizations value busy activity over quiet reflection, leading people to think only “the way they are supposed to”. Don’t fall victim to the “Emperor’s New Clothes” syndrome, where everyone ignores the truth to fit in. Take the time to think for yourself and speak your truth clearly when others ask for your opinion.
The Path Forward When you weave these seven techniques into your daily life, innovation will no longer feel like a chore. Instead, you will find that fresh, vibrant solutions begin to surface naturally, as if they were just waiting for you to notice them.
A Simple Analogy to Remember: Think of your creativity like a garden pond. The water is naturally clear and full of life, but over time, fallen leaves and debris (your assumptions and habits) can cloud the surface. You don’t need to “create” the water; you simply need to clear away the clutter so you can see the depth beneath.
