How to Train Your Creativity (Even If You Think You’re Not Creative)

Carl Rogers defined creativity as, “The creative process is the emergence in the action of a novel relational product, growing out of the uniqueness of the individual on one hand, and the materials, events, people, or circumstances of their life on the other.” Creativity can range from writing a book to simply mixing and matching clothes to create a new outfit. Its range is much broader than we think. 

The word creativity has its origin in Latin. It comes from two words, ‘Creare’ (to create) and ‘Facere’ (to make). It refers to moulding something original out of the ordinary. As opposed to the common consensus, creativity isn’t inherently genetic. It has been proven to be capable of being nurtured (Ayob, 2011). It is simply about tapping into our potential which has been hidden away. Let’s explore creativity in-depth and see how we can foster it within ourselves.

Read More: The Psychology Behind Creativity

The Science of Creativity

It is a process that depends on certain regions and networks in the brain. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for abstract thinking, choice-making, and idea evaluation. The default mode network (DMN) allows for divergent thinking as well as imaginative associations when the mind wanders. Memory and idea retrieval depend on the temporal lobes, and the amygdala injects emotional depth into creative expression.

The three primary neurotransmitters-dopamine (motivation and reward), serotonin (mood regulation), and norepinephrine (alertness)-are key contributors to creativity. Both hemispheres of the brain, the right generating ideas and the left organizing and refining them, are involved in being creative.

It is enhanced during certain brain states, including the flow state, during which high prefrontal activity, known as transient hypofrontality, frees up thinking, and REM sleep when the brain reorganizes information to inspire insights. Neuroplasticity allows the brain to solidify connections through new experiences and thus creativity becomes trainable. Mindfulness, physical exercise, and engaging in diversified activities stimulate neural pathways that are important for creative thinking. 

Read More: 10 Powerful Benefits of Practicing Mindfulness Every Day, According to Psychology

Barriers to Creativity

There are barriers to creative thinking that can hinder our ability to be imaginative:

1. Stress and Anxiety

An art and craft competition with a severe time constraint limits how creative participants can get with their art. The constant pressure of the limited time will prevent them from expressing themselves properly.

2. Education System

The Indian educational curriculum works against promoting creativity as it is heavily focused on rote learning. Focusing on each student’s imaginative prowess can help with fostering creativity. 

3. Functional Fixedness

It refers to thinking about items only in terms of their typical uses. E.g.: Jim wants to fix a piece of furniture and he requires a screwdriver for it but there are none in sight. However, a coin, a butter knife and a car key are present in the room. All of these can be used in place of a screwdriver but functional fixedness prevents Jim from using them.

4. Conformity

A group is brainstorming ideas for a marketing campaign. Most members consider that the flashy, boring approach of offering a general discount is an appropriate strategy. One member thought that a creative, more accurate, rather than flashy approach should be used, but they also realized that everyone seemed excited with the idea of offering a discount. The person felt pressured to go along with what the majority believed and did not propose a different idea since it may work better.

Read More: The Psychological Concept behind Creativity

Strategies to Train Creativity

• Divergent Thinking: It refers to coming up with multiple solutions to a single problem. It encourages brainstorming and imagination. 
• Engage in Creative Exercises: Activities like journaling, drawing, or storytelling can help with opening new doors in our minds. 
• Learn Something New: Taking up hobbies or skills that are challenging. This also creates new neural pathways in the brain.

Read More: 10 Subtle Signs of Highly Creative People, According to Psychology 

The Role of Environment

Perceptually stimulating surroundings can foster creativity, according to studies that offered experimental evidence of the benefits of interior design aspects on creativity. Many studies observed creativity as an entire innovative culture of organizations, encompassing individual abilities and activities, and showed that social spaces often impacted creativity. Lee (2023) determined that suitable environmental conditions can encourage societies to reach their full creative potential and foster individual imagination and discovery.

Read More: Why Losing Your Creative Outlet Feels Like Losing Yourself

Creativity in Daily Life

It is easier than it sounds to incorporate creativity into your routine daily:

• Look at challenges as an opportunity for innovation.
• Spare some time for brainstorming and looking into new ideas.
• Reflect on creative work regularly to boost confidence and generate momentum.
• Even small steps, like journaling or experimenting with a new hobby, can yield significant results over time.

Read More: How Taking Risks Leads to a More Creative and Fulfilling Life

Conclusion

The universe hasn’t made it exclusive for some of us. It’s within each one of us and we can tap into it. It leads to art and art leads to a world that is a little less grey and a bit more colourful. Also, it makes things interesting in an otherwise monotonous routine that most of us go through. It sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. We can turn the ordinary into something much more beautiful. The good thing about it is that it’s very trainable. Having a supportive environment, and challenging oneself with new experiences, among several other methods, are ways in which we can train our creativity.