Winton Eliott
The arts are generally thought of when we think of originality. Writers, painters, and actors are widely recognized as creative by most people.
According to psychologists who study the subject, this is known as Big-C creativity: a professional-level performance that is widely acknowledged and appreciated.
What about little-c creativity, though?
This is referred to as little-c creativity by researchers, and it’s something we all have and utilize on a daily basis, from developing new recipes to performing a do-it-yourself project to coming up with witty jokes to entertain the children.
Creativity abounds in everything around us — the bright colors of an artist’s work, the words of profound poetry, and even a mud-building sculpture created from humble clay.
Artistic creation, on the other hand, is not restricted to artists. Solving complex problems, developing new technology, and finding ways to communicate with others.
These are just a few examples of creativity. So how can you develop your creative thinking?
Understanding the link between your brain and creativity might provide us with some ideas.
Which part of the brain is creative?
The answer may surprise you: both sides!
While it’s true that the left hemisphere is responsible for language and logical thinking, the right side of the brain is actually more important when it comes to creative thinking.
This is because the right side of the brain controls what is known as “spatial abilities.” These abilities allow us to see things in new ways, come up with original ideas, and find solutions to problems.
How can you develop your creative thinking?
Here are a few suggestions that you can do
Get in touch with your right brain
If you’re looking to boost your creativity, it’s important to get in touch with your right brain. One way to do this is by engaging in activities that require you to use your spatial abilities.
Drawing, painting, sculpting, and other forms of art are great ways to get your right brain working. You can also try puzzles and games that require you to think creatively, like word searches or Sudoku.
Engaging your right brain can help you to come up with new ideas, see things from a different perspective, and solve problems in unique ways.
So next time you’re feeling stuck, don’t be afraid to reach for a pencil and paper – your best ideas might just come from your right brain.
Use brainstorming techniques
Brainstorming is a great way to generate new ideas. When you brainstorm, you should allow yourself to think freely and come up with as many ideas as possible without judging them.
Once you have a long list of ideas, you can start to narrow it down and find the best solutions.
There are a few different brainstorming techniques that you can try. One popular method is known as “brainstorming in reverse.”
With this technique, you start with the goal or problem that you want to solve and then brainstorm a list of potential solutions. This can be a great way to generate new ideas and find creative solutions.
Other brainstorming techniques include mind mapping and word associations.
Mind mapping is a technique where you create a visual representation of your ideas, starting with a central concept and then adding related ideas around it.
Word associations involve coming up with a list of words that are related to the central concept. This can help to trigger new ideas and lead you down unexpected paths.
There are many different brainstorming techniques that you can try, so experiment and find the ones that work best for you.
Take a break
It might seem counterintuitive, but taking a break can actually help to boost your creativity.
When you’re feeling stuck, sometimes the best thing to do is to walk away from the problem and take a break. This gives your brain a chance to relax and recharge, which can help you to come up with new ideas.
So next time you’re feeling stuck, try taking a break. Go for a walk, take a nap, or just step away from your work and do something else for a while.
You might be surprised at the fresh ideas that come to you when you give your brain a chance to rest.
Get some sleep
Sleep is essential for creative thinking. When you sleep, your brain processes information and consolidates memories, this helps to create new connections between ideas, which can lead to new insights and solutions.
Studies have shown that sleep can help to boost creativity.
One study found that people who slept after learning a new task were better able to solve problems related to that task than those who did not sleep.
Another study found that people who were sleep-deprived were less likely to come up with creative ideas.
So if you’re looking to boost your creativity, make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Your best ideas might just come to you in your dreams.
Final thought
There is no one part of the brain that controls creativity. Instead, creativity is a product of many different cognitive processes working together.
So if you’re looking to boost your creativity, try engaging your right brain, brainstorming, taking breaks, and getting enough sleep.
By using all of your cognitive resources, you can become more creative and come up with new ideas, solutions, and insights. Thanks for reading! I hope this was helpful.
