Creative
imagination, then, has to include the ability not just to imagine things, but
to imagine original things. It is seeing things that others don't see, and
coming up with new ideas. So how do you cultivate this?
Creative Imagination 101
First, exercise
your basic imagination. It can be as simple as thinking in pictures more, or
listening to music in your mind. Play little "movies" in your mind,
until you can watch them on command. This is a simple process, but for those of
us that can't easily do it naturally, it can take a lot of practice.
Fortunately, it is not an unpleasant activity.
The second part of
developing your creative imagination is to get more creative in your thinking
and imagining. Start by paying attention to your creativity. Our subconscious
minds give us more of what we pay attention to. Ignore creative aspects of your
life, and you're telling your subconscious they are unimportant. On the other
hand, if you note when you're creative, your subconscious mind will start
feeding you more creative ideas.
Different
surroundings can also encourage your creativity. Want more creativity in your
love life? Hike up a mountain with a partner or team. Do you write? Try sitting
on a roof to write. Want new ideas for your business? Take a notebook to the
park and sit by the duck pond. A change of environment can get your thinking
out of its ruts.
You can play games
that exercise your creative imagination. One such game uses a technique called
"concept combination." Alone or with other players, you combine
random concepts or things in new ways, to see who has the best idea. A
thermometer and a billboard, for example, could generate an idea for a sign
that checks the weather and adjusts the message accordingly ("Come in out
of the heat for a cold beverage," or "Come in out of the rain and
warm up with our gourmet coffee.").
Don't Wait for Creative Imagination
Creative
inspiration certainly can strike at any time, but it strikes more often when
there is work instead of waiting. So, if you want to come up with creative
inventions, start mentally redesigning everything you see. Imagine a better
bicycle, a faster mail service, or a better chair. Continue this for three
weeks, and it will become a habit.
Of course, creative
imagination goes beyond solving specific problems or inventing things. Truly
creative minds are always coming up with the questions too, not just the
solutions. If you want to be more creative all the time, focus on three things:
1. Changing your
perspective. A child might
think that working just to not work (to retire) is silly. Thinking from that
perspective might give you ideas for how to make money doing things you enjoy.
Seeing the world as a bear sees it might give a painter imaginative new ideas.
Looking at things from a customer's perspective is a sure way to find creative
improvements for a business. See everything from several perspectives.
2. Challenging
your assumptions. What if
restaurants didn't have employees? Visitors pay a machine as they enter, feed
themselves at a buffet, and everything is as automated as possible, so one
owner-operator could run a large restaurant alone. Challenge all your
assumptions for practice. Do you really have to pay rent? Do swimming pools
need water?
3. Let your
ideas run wild. Does a
flying bed seem silly? It could lead to the concept of a helium mattress. When
you get off it in the morning, it floats out of the way, up to the ceiling.
Perfect for small apartments. Don't stifle your creativity. Relax, and let
ideas come. You can always discard them later.
For these
techniques to be a habitual part of your thinking, use them regularly. Since it
takes several weeks to develop a habit, remind yourself to use them each day. Write
a few of your favourite techniques on a card and carry it with you. Look it
over throughout the day and apply the techniques to anything. Soon, you'll have
a more creative imagination.
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