Creativity is an integral component of a person. Some choose creative work as the basis of their life, others use it from time to time. What is creativity? How to discover and develop creative abilities in yourself? How does a creative person differ from an ordinary person? Can we say that there is a psychology of creativity that goes beyond the usual perception? Let's try to understand these issues together.

What is creativity

Creativity is the process of creating something new, never seen before in the world. We are talking not only about works of art or architectural masterpieces. This is definitely creativity, but the definition of this concept is much broader. After all, even a couple of lines written on a schoolgirl’s blog is already something new for this world.

Creativity can be considered both globally and at the everyday level.

There are the following types of creativity:

  • Artistic – visualizes a person’s inner experiences;
  • Arts and crafts – transforms the world around us;
  • Musical – allows you to feel the rhythm and reproduce beautiful sounds;
  • Scientific and technical – makes scientific discoveries and unexpected inventions;
  • Philosophical – accompanies the search for thinkers and sages;
  • Social – improves legal, cultural and other relationships in society;
  • Entrepreneurial – helps in successful business development;
  • Spiritual – provides the ideological foundations of society;
  • Everyday life – increases a person’s ability to adapt to emerging circumstances;
  • Sports and gaming - associated with non-standard implementation of the necessary tactical and technical elements.

There is a similar concept of creativity. Many consider her and creativity synonymous. Since these two words exist in the Russian language, it would be more correct to allocate each of them its own ecological niche. Trying to separate creativity and creativity, the definition of the latter sounds like the process of creating something new. And creativity is a person’s ability to create something new. In the first case, we are talking about an action, in the second – about a property.

You can also find a classification where creativity is a broader concept, and creativity is considered as directed creativity, that is, in response to a specific need.

For example, if a girl is abandoned by a young man, and she writes poetry, sobbing into her pillow, this will be an act of creativity. If a creative at an advertising agency is tasked with coming up with a new toothbrush, then tears and poetry will not be useful to him. It should be a finished product, which is where creativity will help.

Who is a creative person

A creative person is a creator who creates something new. Moreover, “new” means not only creation, but also destruction, because creative work is sometimes associated with the destruction of existing forms.

For example, a game of bowling, when an athlete uses a ball to destroy the lined pins, but the approach to the game itself can be very creative.

The inclinations for certain types of activity arise even at the stage of human embryonic development, but creative abilities appear directly after birth. It is advisable to ensure the child’s harmonious development, including creative work. Drawing, dancing, arts and crafts, etc. The more multifaceted a person develops, the easier it will be for him to adapt in adulthood.

Creativity in psychology occupies a special place, because thanks to it it is possible to correct a number of psychosomatic disorders. There is even such a direction as art therapy - the use of elements of creativity for therapeutic purposes. This once again emphasizes the importance of this topic.

But how do you understand that a person has creative abilities? Are there signs by which one can identify a creative person?

Signs of a creative person

We can recognize that we have a creative personality in front of us by at least seven distinctive features:

  1. The ability to see more than others;
  2. Striving for beauty;
  3. Free expression of your emotions and feelings;
  4. Ability to fantasize;
  5. Tendency to take risks and act rashly;
  6. A reverent attitude towards your works;
  7. Following your dream.

A creative person will not put material wealth above his fantasies and goals. Many authors spend years of their lives creating their works, without even understanding whether they will ultimately be able to make money from them. The psychology of creativity is more likely based on satisfaction with the result or the creative process itself than on the opportunity to get rich.

Although, you shouldn’t think that a creative person will go penniless. Talented people can achieve recognition among their contemporaries. And by doing what you love, you can earn money.

An important property that determines creativity is the ability to see what is hidden from other people. After all, in order to create something new, you need to imagine it, see it in your fantasies. Some look at the sky and see clouds, while others see white-maned horses. Everyone hears the noise of the engine, and someone recognizes it as the beginning of their new musical composition.

The ability and desire to fantasize determines creativity in all its forms and manifestations. Before the master creates another sculpture, it must appear in his head. And even a new original wrestling technique is often carried out mentally, and only then performed on the mat.

How to develop creativity?

Like any other skills, creative inclinations can also be strengthened and developed. First, you should understand your skills and interests. Secondly, practice more in this activity. For example, it’s stupid to go to dances if you want to learn how to draw, or vice versa. Thirdly, never stop there and improve all the time. Fourth, surround yourself with equally passionate people. Fifthly, believe in your strength and your talent.

Creativity helps people become more fulfilled, cope with daily tasks more effectively, and differentiate themselves from others. A creative person will always achieve success, no matter what type of activity she chooses. That is why you should always develop your creative abilities, without neglecting them in favor of other life priorities. A person must develop harmoniously and creativity is an important part of this process.

Interesting... Creative people are talented individuals who love to be useful and do good to others. They like freedom, so any restrictions will be perceived by them as an infringement of rights. Many people believe that creative people are lonely, unhappy and do not live long. Fortunately, this is not always the case. Talent is given to a person by God, you just need to seize the moment and start developing your abilities in time.

It is worth noting that among child prodigies there are indeed many unhappy people, since their creativity is not always understandable to others. As a rule, the average person's brain activity occurs within certain limits, and everything that goes beyond these limits is perceived as something unnatural and abnormal. For this reason, it is very difficult for creative people to survive in this cruel world, in which there are so many persistent stereotypes and unwillingness to evolve. Neuroscience confirms that talented individuals think and act differently.Creative people's minds are literally designed to think uniquely, differently than the majority. However, such a gift from nature can significantly complicate life and strain relationships with others. If you know a creative person, you have probably had the idea more than once that he lives in some completely different world. In most cases, trying to understand such a personality is as futile as trying to change it. In order to be able to adapt to such a person, you need to learn to look at the world through his eyes.


Liar's Talent

It should be noted that creative people are excellent liars. A number of experiments have shown that such individuals are inclined to more intricate and complex lies. In addition, they themselves can easily identify the deceiver. One of the manifestations of creativity is the unacceptability of existing patterns and the breaking of established stereotypes. Talented people easily perceive the unethical nature of their own behavior, and also calmly relate to the similar actions of others.

High degree of mistrust

A gifted person tends not to trust even close people. Although he is quick to recognize lies, being suspicious of others is also a hallmark of talent. And this is not surprising, because in order to make a new discovery, you need to learn to look at elementary things from a different angle. That is why a talented person questions everything, because it is much easier to create something new from scratch.


Impudence

In the course of various experiments, it was found that modesty is not the lot of talented people. Many of them, as a rule, are proud of their abilities and use them skillfully, which allows them to set an exorbitantly high price for themselves. In addition, a gifted person is very keen to show how impressionable he is and how much he knows how to worry.


Depression

Often talented people fall into depression. Many such geniuses have various phobias: some are afraid of getting sick with an incurable disease, others are afraid of dying young, others even faint at the sight of a spider or cockroach. Psychologists in many countries have tried to find out whether depression is really related to talent. After studying data obtained from psychiatric clinics, they found that creative individuals are more likely to develop severe forms of mental illness. In addition, it has been proven that not only talent, but also similar disorders can be inherited.

It's hard to believe in yourself

Even if a person is confident in his abilities, over time he begins to ask questions: “Am I good enough? Am I doing everything right? Creative people constantly compare their work with the creations of other masters and do not notice their own brilliance, which may be obvious to everyone else. In this regard, creative stagnation is often observed, when a person simply gives up, thinking that all his previous ideas were in vain and meaningless. At such a moment, it is very important to have a faithful friend nearby who would help the master survive this difficult period.

Time to dream

Creative people are dreamers, this helps them in their work. Many of us have noticed that the best ideas come to us when we are mentally transported far from reality. Neuroscientists have proven that imagination activates brain processes that are closely related to creativity and fantasy.

Time dependent

Most great masters admit that they created their best works either at night or at dawn. For example, V. Nabokov took up his pen at 6 am as soon as he woke up, and Frank Lloyd Wright had the habit of starting work at 3 am and going back to bed a few hours later. As a rule, people with great creative potential rarely stick to a standard daily routine.

Privacy

To be as open to creativity as possible, you need to learn how to use solitude constructively. To achieve this, many talented people overcome their fear of loneliness. People often perceive creatives and artists as loners, although in reality they are not. This desire for solitude can be an important part of creating your best work.

Overcoming life's obstacles

Many cult works were released as a result of their creator experiencing heartbreaking pain and strong emotions. Often, various problems become a catalyst that helps create unique and outstanding masterpieces. Psychology has given this phenomenon a scientific name - post-traumatic growth. Researchers have found that often a strong shock helps a person succeed in a particular activity, as well as discover new opportunities in himself.

Search for new experiences

Many creative people are constantly in search of new emotions and impressions. Unfortunately, some of them resort to alcohol and drugs to achieve this effect. It should be noted that a talented person is always open to new knowledge, she is quite intelligent and inquisitive. The transition from one emotional state to another is a kind of engine for exploring and understanding two worlds, internal and external.

Beauty will save the world!

Creative people, as a rule, have excellent taste, so they constantly try to surround themselves with beautiful things. These can be not only clothing items, but also interior elements, paintings, books, and jewelry. Some studies have found that singers and musicians demonstrate increased receptivity and sensitivity to artistic beauty.

Connecting the dots

Creative individuals are able to find opportunity where others simply do not notice it. Many famous writers and artists believe that creativity is the ability to connect dots that an ordinary person would not think of connecting in such a sequence. If you ask a genius how he put these things together, he will feel awkward because he will not have an answer to this question. What is difficult for others is not difficult for a creative person.

What is creativity? A landscape painted on canvas, or a poem filled with emotional experiences, a new architectural masterpiece or a delicious dish prepared by a chef? Creativity inspired by the impulse of the soul is expressed in different things; it is unique and priceless not only for the author, but sometimes for all of humanity.

Creativity - what is it?

Uniqueness is the main criterion of this concept. The very concept of “creativity” implies a process of human activity that creates certain values, both material and spiritual. Such a result can only be achieved by the author of this work. This fact gives value to the final result. At the same time, in the process of creative production, the author expresses his personal aspects.

Psychology of creativity

Science, technology, the arts, an ordinary day in everyday life - all of these can be areas in which a person shows his uniqueness. An entire branch of psychology studies human creative activity. Psychology actively studies creativity, inspiration, imagination, individuality and intuition. Many years of studying these areas have not yielded clear answers to the questions of what creativity is and how to introduce it into the lives of ordinary people. The psychology of creativity is based on the relationship that develops between the author and the product.

Philosophy of creativity

A person has no limits in the world of desires and fantasies. An egoist desires everything that other people do not have, a person who is obsessed with a dream desires what does not exist in nature, in a reasonable person the thirst for creativity results in. The entire philosophy of creativity is aimed at the fact that harmony and beauty were created, and the created masterpieces served for the benefit of civilization.

Types of creativity

A creative person can seek the realization of his ideas, plans, flights of fancy in different types of activities:

  1. Scientific creativity– various kinds of discoveries, the final product is knowledge.
  2. Technical creativity– practical or technological development, the final product – a mechanism or structure.
  3. Artistic creativity– the aesthetic basis of the world, the desire for beauty. The final product is an artistic image (poem, painting, sculpture).
  4. Co-creation– this is the perception of works of art, their interpretation.
  5. Children's creativity- the process of a child’s imagination, his fantasy.
  6. Pedagogical creativity– a special approach to teaching knowledge, its goal is to teach something new.

What develops creativity in a person?

No one can give a clear, definite answer to the question posed. In order to discover and develop, a person must answer the question, what is creativity specifically for him? Harmony can contribute to the development of a person’s creative abilities; it is worth trying to look at the familiar world with different eyes, from a new angle. Having cleared your consciousness, it is much easier to scoop up the new things that the world offers. A true creator lives in every person.

What promotes creativity?

Tolerance for the outside world and inner peace are the basis of the creative process. It is easier for a person open to the world, devoid of stereotypes and prejudices, to sense the subtlest matter of creativity, to feel the light breath of the muse behind his back:

  1. It's worth finding a melody that has a positive impact on the creative process.
  2. Writing by hand rather than using a computer promotes creativity.
  3. Meditation is the best way to relax and put your thoughts in order.
  4. Free association activities will awaken your imagination.
  5. You shouldn’t get hung up on it, sometimes you should think about something far away. For example, about how to celebrate the New Year in 2030.
  6. Blue and green colors influence creativity.
  7. A change of environment can promote creativity.
  8. Laugh, even through force. This will have a positive effect on the brain.
  9. Do something with your hands.
  10. Practice. During sports, not only does the body become stronger, but the brain is also significantly relaxed.
  11. Try something new. Life and creativity are closely connected, new emotions can be brought, for example, by traveling abroad, conquering mountains, diving to the depths of the sea.
  12. Sleep, that “morning is wiser than evening” really works.

Where does any creativity begin?

A concept or idea is the beginning of any work by an artist, composer, writer, inventor, fashion designer. The creative process begins with a figurative sketch, the concept of the entire work. For each individual, this process occurs in its own way, but is always divided into three stages. Without following such a plan of action, the plan will be born spontaneously and will not always be realized.

  • cognition and creative processing of impressions;
  • the emergence of an artistic concept;
  • implementation of the plan.

Creativity and imagination

New images are created based on the reality of the surrounding world. But seasoned with imagination, they make creativity truly unique. allows you to get an idea of ​​something without coming into contact with it. Creativity in human life is always associated with imagination; examples of it can be seen when studying the process of creation. For example, when creating fairy-tale creatures and various objects, special techniques are used.

  • movement – ​​subjective transfer of an object to new, unusual situations;
  • typing – assigning an object to a specific type;
  • analogy – creating an image by analogy with another;
  • exaggeration or understatement;
  • addition - new functions and properties are attributed to the object;
  • agglutination - creating an image from two different ideas.

Creativity and Creativity

Often, most people perceive these concepts as one whole. But such a comparison is wrong. The word “creativity” came to the business community in the late 80s, and only then began to be used in wide circles. Creativity is the ability that a person can demonstrate in non-standard, creative thinking, his ability to put forward unique ideas. Creativity implies the activity of creating, the ability to overcome stereotypes, it is the motivation for something new. Creativity and creativity are closely related, they are increasingly difficult to separate from each other.

How to develop creativity?

Striving for more is normal human development in any area. is limitless for a person, and with proper training it can surprise the owner who doubted the presence of at least some creative rudiments in his personality:

  1. Morning ritual. When we wake up, we immediately take a pen, a notepad and write. About what? About everything! The main thing is to write, you don’t have to think too much. You should write at least 750 words.
  2. We ask a question to any object or action: “What if?” For example, what if dogs could talk? What if all the people in the world were silent? This method is called.
  3. Splitting and combining different words. This method will definitely force the brain to turn off habitual thinking and turn on fantasy. You need to take two different words, split them up and combine them. For example, pillow + blanket = blanket, curtains + tulle = adit.
  4. The Torrance method is based on the same type of scribbles, which are also called doodles. It is worth drawing identical symbols on a sheet of paper (several circles or squares, crosses, diamonds, and so on). We turn on our imagination and draw using drawn figures.
  5. Method of focal objects. We “take” a random object, for example, a pencil, a comb, the sky, and open a book (newspaper, magazine) to any page. We “grab” random 5 words and connect them with the subject into a story.

Creative crisis

Fantasy does not turn on, inspiration does not come, everything around is gray and gloomy and clearly does not contribute to the birth of a new idea or masterpiece. can affect any person whose activity or life is in one way or another connected with creativity. What is the problem with creativity? You shouldn’t look for answers in the world around you without understanding yourself. Finding answers to the questions “What is creativity? How to start creating again? Where can I find creative inspiration? will be ineffective if a person does not find the strength to find peace.

  1. It is necessary to create (write, draw, design, etc.) in the same place.
  2. It is worth setting aside the same time for creative activities.
  3. Before starting work, you should listen to the same song.
  4. Use the same things for work, for example, the same text editor for writing, the same brushes and easel for drawing.
  5. You should work every day; order is destroyed most of all on the weekends.

Books about creativity

Drawing inspiration from books, many are inspired by the lives of the heroes and the examples of their lives. The world of creativity is unusual, bright and passionate, represented in many works by famous authors:

  1. "Steal Like an Artist" by Austin Kleon. The author tells readers how to discover creativity within themselves.
  2. “Muse, where are your wings?” Yana Frank filled with inspiration and written for people who have decided to devote their entire lives to creativity.
  3. Bringing Ideas to Life by Scott Belksy will tell you how to overcome doubts, set priorities and achieve results.
  4. “Genius to Order” by Mark Levy offers an unusual way to find a solution to a problem - freewriting.
  5. “Create and sell” S. Voinskaya. The book tells you how to sell your creation.

Any creative person looks at the world from his own point of view. And at the same time, his vision of life is sometimes radically different from generally accepted views. Creativity can be a gift or it can be a curse, but either way, creative people share many of the same personality traits. And the most important similarity is that such people value themselves not for who they are, but for who they could become in the future. Creative people always have big plans.

History knows many creative minds capable of creating entire worlds and even universes. Kurt Vonnegut, Leo Tolstoy, Isaac Asimov... This list can be continued indefinitely. How did they manage to make their fantasies come true? What is needed for this? All you need to do is think differently. Think and do your job differently, not as is customary. Here are 11 things creative people do differently.

They work on their own schedule

A creative person, of course, knows that creating in a surge of inspiration is easy and pleasant. But sitting and waiting for the departed muse to return again is extremely unproductive. Therefore, creative people prefer to work according to their own schedule. Every creator has their own workflow habits. Some people think well in the morning, others reach their peak activity in the late afternoon. But in any case, this schedule has nothing to do with the routine work from nine to six. A creative person finds time for both rest and work.

They are looking for new opportunities and experiences

Another common feature of creative people is the need for new experiences and impressions. They are never satisfied with one thing, as this significantly limits their creativity. Many people are multi-talented and it is painful for them to give up their mind-boggling ideas in favor of one thing. Creative people are always in search of new experiences because impressions are food for their inquisitive minds.

They accept that their work may be unsuccessful.

Creative people can work very well at the peak of inspiration, but they all recognize that this is not enough to create anything worthwhile. Very often inspiration is deceptive and the work turns out to be too banal or uninteresting. It's not easy to admit this. But creative people are precisely distinguished by the fact that they know how to admit that they have created the most completely cheap thing. They are good at distinguishing where they were able to implement a unique idea, and where they used cliches and clichés.

They are not afraid of failure

Successful creative people are not afraid of failure. They are absolutely sure that any failure is the key to success. The ability to learn from your mistakes and benefit from bad experiences is a trait that unites all creatives, no matter what they do. Failure for a creative person is only an annoying obstacle, it is a small obstacle that is so insignificant that it can be neglected on the way to a shining goal. And if impressions are food for the mind for such people, then failures are the energy supply of the whole organism.

They find ideas wherever they can

Personal experience is of great importance for any creative person. And you can gain this experience by exploring the world around you. Gifted people are constantly looking for new ideas and new incentives. Impatient and curious, they look into different areas of life, trying to understand how the acquired knowledge can be used in their work. They are looking for inspiration, but a special inspiration that can only be given by new experience. A creative person who does not have an idea that he would like to implement experiences severe discomfort and this unpleasant feeling forces him to continue his search.

They believe in their dream
They live in a fantasy world

In modern society, daydreaming is considered something frivolous, but it is a common trait of all creative people. They think a lot because their brain is constantly creating new images. Life in a fantasy world can be so wonderful that very often creative people completely surrender to their inspiration. They say about such people “not of this world” and to some extent this is true. A person immersed in his thoughts appears detached and self-focused. But there is no other way; this is the only way, living in a fantasy world, to create a great work.

They are confident

Self-confidence is often a hallmark of a creative person. But this is a special kind of confidence. It is also a desire to take risks. Every creative person is so confident in himself and his abilities that he is not afraid to carry out bold experiments, refute popular opinions and smash established theories to smithereens. His creativity and ability to look at the world with different eyes haunt him and the creative artist will not stop until he proves to the world that everything can be done differently. Even if he is overcome by doubts, a creative person knows that what he is confident in can be created. Even things that will never exist.

They don't recognize any boundaries

Creative people never follow generally accepted rules and regulations if they come their way. Any restrictions for a gifted person only prevent him from creating. Therefore, such people try to circumvent prohibitions or instructions in any way. They are looking for something new, they are trying to create something new, and rules, especially stupid ones, can make them really angry. The desire to create freely can be so strong that an artist or, for example, a writer can leave their homeland if the laws of the state conflict with their creativity. History knows many examples when a great mind left his homeland only because he was not allowed to create.

They ask a lot of questions

Many people believe that asking a lot of questions is a sign of stupidity and try to remain silent, even if they do not understand something. But creative people who do things differently will disagree with this. They are so curious that they are ready to ask hundreds of questions until they understand the essence of a phenomenon. Even if they look like funny things. Blind spots are a strong irritant for a creative person, especially when working on an important work. A lack of information can harm creativity and the thing will turn out one-sided and uninteresting. To prevent this, the lack of knowledge should be filled. This means you need to ask questions, including yourself.

They create a creative space

The desire for solitude distinguishes many creative people. Singles, of course, are not outcasts in modern society, but they are often looked at askance, especially if a person lives in a fantasy world. But to create something truly worthwhile, many people need solitude. And then the gifted person begins to look for a place where he could stay alone and think calmly. Workshops, offices, just a quiet place in the park - any option is suitable for a creative person, as long as no one bothers him to think or bring his ideas to life.

There are those who believe that creative people have special secret powers and innate talents. But that's not true. There is creativity in everyone. We have made a selection of 30 commandments, following which you can awaken your creative power and make your life brighter.

1. Creativity begins in the heart

By listening to our deepest desires, and carefully, we get the opportunity not only to engage in the creativity that we dream of, but also to dream that this creativity will reach significant proportions.

2. Creativity needs to be fed constantly.

Talent or interest is a living part of you, like a hand, or an ear, or an eye. All this needs to be used, it needs to be nourished, otherwise it will atrophy and you will not be who you should be.

A way to train your creativity every day is the “1 Page a Day” creative notebook. Source - creative Instagram of MYTH @miftvorchestvo

3. Vision has magical properties

Magic is the ability to see results without seeing the process leading to them. It is vision, inner vision, that allows you to notice what is missing in a work, and also helps you see what no one has seen before. This is an incredible human gift - to see beyond the present and the past and from that distant, unknown, to extract something that did not exist until now.

The great 20th century composer Karlheinz Stockhausen wrote: “We just need to close our eyes and listen for a while. Around us, in the air, there is always something never heard before.”

4. The best place to start the creative process is at the end

Let each new creation appear in your mind as if out of nothing. The form, structure of a creation, the impressions and sensations it leaves, its very life - all this immediately appears, even in the simplest picture. Imagine the result. Add elements. Take the risk of removing some of the old ones. Examine the imaginary creature from the inside, outside. You will learn a lot about your concept.

The ability to visualize your creation in a complete form makes it possible to work with knowledge, rather than build work on assumptions. This knowledge is the reason why many professional creators are so confident in themselves.

5. Creativity is not a problem, problem solving is not creativity.

Some people make the same decisions all their lives, others acquire new ones. The main motivating force for them is the severity of the problem. Once the worst is smoothed out, the motivation to act weakens. Fighting problems as a lifestyle is obviously a losing option, because it leads to the attenuation of activity, moreover, aimed at solving problems!

When you get a big and tasty problem on your hands, you no longer need to think - you already have an obsession. What if you suddenly had no problems? What would you be thinking about then? What were you doing?

6. The stubbornness of artists makes the world a better place.

Luckily for us, artists are stubborn people. The best-selling author was advised by her therapist to aim for a career as a secretary, but she continued writing (that's me). The famous director was removed from the documentary project, but he continued to make films (Martin Scorsese). The talented actress was expelled from the Boston University acting program (Oscar winner Geena Davis). The lawyer who "should" have spent time on "business" has proven that he should have been writing too (John Grisham). These artists listened to their inner voice, and several external voices whispered - or shouted that they also know who we really are. These people strengthened our confidence and changed our destinies.

7. There is a place for creativity always and everywhere

The text doesn't care where you create it. It is important that . You do it. The same is true for drawing. One artist lost a whole year because he “couldn’t work without a studio.” When the studio appeared and he returned to work, he created several rather large paintings, but much more - beautiful miniatures in charcoal and pencil, which he could even paint on a TV stand if he so desired. But he didn’t work - and not because there was no workshop, but because he simply didn’t work. There is a place for creativity in any life, no matter how eventful and people-filled or, conversely, boring and empty.

8. The art of small steps

If you are a beginner musician and want to learn how to play the piano, then sit down and touch the keys. Great. Tomorrow you can sit down at the piano again and touch the keys. Five minutes a day is better than zero. Five minutes can turn into ten, just like a light hug can turn into something more passionate.


@miftvorchestvo

I can’t write a whole book today, but I can write one page. I won’t be able to immediately become an accomplished pianist, but I can devote 15 minutes to music lessons. You may not be able to count on a solo exhibition in Soho today, but you are quite capable of drawing your cocker spaniel, imposingly sitting in an old leather chair, or sketching the hand of a loved one. You can begin.

9. Magic in action

Goethe said, “Whenever you think or believe that you can do something, do it, because there is magic, grace and power in action.”

10. There is always an opportunity to do something positive.

The inconvenient truth is that there is always an opportunity to do something positive - yes, hell, always, even if we are not in the mood for it. Optimism towards yourself and your capabilities is already a conscious choice. We can make this choice, believe in the best and not the worst, but to do this we need to hear the negative soundtrack playing in our heads and decide to replace it.

11. Use constructive and practical thinking

Constructive thinking is the generation of raw ideas, without any evaluations or judgments. The strategy is to come up with as many obvious ideas as possible, as well as the craziest ones, and criticism at this time is inappropriate. Once you've come up with more ideas, change your approach to include practical thinking. It is necessary to identify which ones have the greatest value. Edison once claimed to have come up with 3,000 different theories of electric lighting. Each of them looked reasonable, but he settled on the most practical and profitable. His first goal was to create as many opportunities as possible, and then he began to evaluate - identifying the healthiest and most viable idea.


Constructive thinking and practical thinking are two separate mental operations, and there is no compromise, middle position between them. - Illustration from the book “Hacking Creativity”

12. Thinking without judgment is dynamic and flexible

A creative person is able to think freely and flexibly. It allows for the unlimited deployment of ideas, their organization in ranks, a kind of hitchhiking of options, any combination of them to invent new ones, until it comes to the final breakthrough result that makes you exclaim “Eureka!” Ideas replace each other, giving rise to additional ideas and their combinations, which multiplies possibilities.

13. Test creativity with emotions

Measuring your success is very important. A great way to measure success is to determine how you want to feel. Take some time and jot down a list of the emotions you want to experience from your business. Perhaps it will be something similar to this one.

  • Freedom
  • Happiness
  • Completeness
  • Cheerfulness
  • Self Confidence
  • Security
  • Creation
  • Completeness

Check your feelings against this list regularly. Does business give you the feelings you dream of? For example, do you feel protected? If yes, then you have succeeded in your definition. Congratulations! And if not, try to understand why. What can you do to change how you feel?

14. Headphones help muffle the noise in the world around you.

Headphones, with or without music, create a kind of buffer around you. This is especially useful if you are a woman and trying to work on a novel in a cafe. For a certain type of sociable people (meaning men), the sight of a lady with furrowed eyebrows furiously typing something on a laptop in a public place evokes the only association: you need to come up and meet someone. Headphones are a great way to keep these well-meaning but very annoying citizens at bay.

“I always write novels with headphones on. Sometimes I even remember that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to connect them to something. Headphones help muffle the noise from the outside world. And when they are connected to the player, they drive music at terrible speed directly into my brain, clearly outlining the shapes of my thoughts and giving power to the sentences appearing on the page.”

15. You are your job

You change and your job becomes different. When you develop, so does your creativity. Your work lives and breathes because you live and breathe. By living life to the fullest, you enhance the collective human experience. As William Blake wrote, “Everything that lives lives not alone, not for itself.” There is no longer any difference between you and others, between what you give and what you receive. It is all the same, an ever-changing dance, a constant conversation in which it is impossible to say more where one thing begins and another ends.

16. Each artist - an art book

Your art book is a ticket to free creative sailing. This is your “sandbox” in which you can try new artistic means and techniques, new colors and their effects, try your hand at different formats, without limiting yourself. If you have inspiration, write poetry. Let thoughts find verbal expression as well as graphic expression.