“The ability to produce or use original and unusual ideas.” - Cambridge Dictionary

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When you see a painting, sculpture or a building; you might wonder where these artists and designers get their inspirations from. Some of us may think these people are gifted since they were born, the rest of us can only dream of what they achieve. This raises a question: can creativity be nurtured?

There is no doubt that some artists are naturally talented. They get a head start and shine earlier in their careers. However, researches show that creativity can be nurtured. Creative techniques help you to step out of your comfort zone and to explore possibilities. Making mistake is part of the improving process and you can find nice surprises along the way. These surprises can inspire you to develop your ideas further. Being creative is unlikely to turn you into a genius in a sudden, but it will make your daily life and career more productive by finding new solutions. Creativity encourages you to express freely, increases your confidence and self-awareness.

Some studies also show interesting results, saying that young children are more creative than adults. This suggests our creativity decrease as we grow up, which is quite ironic. We were told by our parents and teachers to learn and do the “right” things since our childhoods. However, when it comes to creativity, following the right or safe solutions will probably limit your possibilities. Some parents might not realise the importance of these creative skills. On the other
hand, we are fear to make mistakes so that we can score good grades.

 

Nowadays information is continuously fed to us, we start to lack the ability to think creatively, independently and critically. This is likely to affect your career, since innovation causes industries to grow. Creativity is a skill that can be learnt and developed by a series of trainings. Asking the right question will be a good start. A relaxing atmosphere is also likely to help. As Albert Einstein said, “imagination is more important than knowledge.” We might be born to be creative, but our environment limits our creativity as we grow up. We need to stay curious, try to question our assumptions and keep thinking.