6 Golden Rules to Enhance Creative Thinking

A few years ago, on the verge of embarking on the journey as a designer, I was asked a very straight question. What can I bring to the table? What service can I provide? Well, the answer was simple. As a designer, I bring enhanced creativity to the table. Ideas and creative solutions for problems.A new thought process that enables us to seek multiple perspectives.

It would not be wrong at all to say that the only thing that essentially differentiates designers from the rest is their capability to think outside the box, connect jumbled things and see things from different perspectives. In other words, we call it creative thinking.

So what is Creative thinking?

“Creative thinking is a way of looking at problems or situations from a fresh perspective that suggests unorthodox solutions (which can look unsettling at first). Creative thinking can be stimulated both by an unstructured process such as brainstorming and by a structured process such as lateral thinking”

Creative thinkers are not only appreciated everywhere but hold positions of great value in various organizations. Some might agree to an age-old myth that it is not everyone’s cup of tea and one has to be naturally creative. But with the evolution of human intelligence over the past few years, researchers suggest that creative thinking can be built into individuals and can be enhanced. There are various processes and explained theories to do this. Below are few such handpicked, tested and efficient rules which if pursued over an effective period of time, the results can be very encouraging.

Get out of your comfort zone

A comfort zone is a self-created pseudo mental asylum in where we constantly convince ourselves that the best way to do things is to do it the easy way. In other words, our comfort zone is a behavioral pattern where our activities and behaviors fit perfectly. It minimizes stress and risk, provides regular happiness and reduces anxiety to a certain extent. It provides a state of mental security.

But to be frank, nothing encouraging ever comes out our comfort zone. We can keep on repeating the same thing, doing it over and over the same way. Ideas from a new perspective is very rare here.

It’s important to constantly push the boundaries of our comfort zone to explore new areas that don’t seem very familiar.

Take more risks and be fearless

As they say, everybody wants to be a diamond but very few are willing to get cut. Yes, being fearless in the pursuit of something that we believe in not only enhances our creative spirit but also enriches us with a priceless experience. Unless we are brave enough to believe that something new, something out of the world is possible, we keep ourselves confined to our habitual thoughts only .when we start believing in things and are fearless enough to pursue it, the positivity spreads around. People around start seeing things differently, which in turn, it motivates us.

Surround Yourself with more creative people

We are only going to be as good as the people we surround ourselves with. So we should try and be with people who reflect us, who we want to be and how we want to feel. People who appreciate our ideas, people who believe in seeking new horizons, the dreamers and the doers, the believers, and the thinkers. Creativity can be intensified when exchanged with the right people.

Ask questions more often /Be curious always

We never learn anything by talking but by asking questions. The more we ask questions to ourselves, the more the chance of finding creative solutions. Questioning is the ability to organize our thinking around what we don’t know. We should never assume the thoughts of anybody simply because we are afraid of thinking beyond. We should take a step ahead and be thoughtful. As it has been often said wise men don’t give the right answers but pose the right questions. So we should start seeking knowledge and wisdom by being interrogative.

Take breaks

Taking breaks is important. As humans, we tend to stick to recurring ideas unless we take a fresh look at it. Sometimes it is important to break, step outside, get some air to observe things from a different standpoint. The greatest thing that one can have is a little bit of our own attention. It enhances self-awareness and provides us with the right gasp of freedom needed for ‘out of the box’ thinking. You need to be out of the box sometimes to see if certain things can be approached in a different way. A vantage point in fact.

Stay Cheerful

A cheerful frame of mind, reinforced by relaxation… is the medicine that puts all ghosts of fear on the run ~George Matthew Adams

A healthy and cheerful mind can achieve a lot more. It enhances creative thinking, confidence, and optimism. Goals start to seem achievable. It provides vision to look beyond the obstacles. It helps us relax, generate more ideas and solve problems easily and overall makes the work very enjoyable.

So at any point in time, we are always being presented with a choice -Evolve or remain. Those who chose to evolve tend to go far and wide!