How To Be Creative: A Ten Step Guide

Hi, folks. Nick the poet here and I wanted to talk to you about how to be creative. This is a ten step guide. So some people maybe are born creative geniuses. The rest of us have to work hard at it. And maybe even if you are a genius, you still have to work hard at it. If you're not naturally inclined to be creative, don't worry, this guide is going to help you tap into your inner Picasso. Just follow these simple steps and you'll be well on your way to a more creative life. So number one, get rid of all distractions.

This is a tough one. We've got TikTok, Instagram, emails, phone calls. But the first step to being more creative is eliminating anything that might distract you from the task at hand. One thing I like to do to practice this is morning pages, where I just have a pencil and a piece of paper and I write just what's on my mind, what's going on, you know, free association and being away from technology like that can really help me. And maybe for you it's going for a walk, you know, could mean a lot of different things.

Turning off your phone, unplugging the Internet, creating that quiet space where you can really focus on the task at hand. So once you've got rid of all distractions, it's time to start brainstorming. So number two is, set some ground rules, right? When you're trying to be creative, it's important to set some parameters for yourself. This is the whole idea of the black box theater. In the theater world, it's a blank slate, but we need to, you know, set some parameters. You know, what is the purpose of this project?

Who is my audience? You know, once you've got a good understanding of what you're trying to accomplish, it's going to be much easier to get started. Number three is get inspired. So one of the best ways to jumpstart your creativity is by looking at other people's work, the art of imitation. And sometimes when we try to get close to someone else's work, it's amazing what original stuff. You know, we come up with, browse art galleries, read inspiring books, listen to music. That gets your juices flowing.

The key here is not to copy what you see, but to use it as a springboard for your own ideas. So number four is brainstorming with someone else. The power of collaboration, right? It's a great way to come up with new and interesting ideas. So if you're feeling stuck, try bouncing some ideas off of a friend or a colleague. Not only are they going to be able to offer some helpful insights. But the process of talking things out can also help you clarify your own thoughts and come up with solutions that you might not have thought of on your own.

So number five is write everything down. Once you start generating ideas, it's important to write them down immediately before you forget them. I do this a lot. I recommend being organized with it. I'm not particularly organized with it, but if we have a way of keeping these notebooks, these journals, and don't edit yourself as you go, the goal here is just to get everything out of your head and onto paper or screen. You can always go back and revise later. Number six, take breaks often. Ooh, I'm good at this one.

When you're feeling stuck, it's tempting to just push through and force yourself to be creative, you know? But the reality is taking breaks is actually essential to being creative. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, call a friend. Right? So just take those breaks. It's going to make your work better. Number seven is experiment with different mediums. You know, maybe you're a video maker, but you want to try poetry, you're a poet or you want to try painting. Maybe you're an essay writer, but you need to get into Photoshop and experiment with that.

The list goes on. It's important to keep challenging yourself by trying new things and not being afraid to make mistakes. Oofta I am afraid to make mistakes a lot of the time, but just keep, keep going. Number nine is to is embracing those mistakes. So, you know, I'm making a little mistake with this video right now. I think I messed up my number in a bit, but I'm going to keep going. It doesn't matter necessarily. Always the outcome. It's about that journey and making mistakes can bring us closer to the goal.

So number ten is keep going. The most important thing of all is don't give up. Never, never, never, never give up. Right? Just keep going. So whether you consider yourself a creative person or not, there are always ways that you can become more creatively inclined by following these simple steps. From getting rid of distractions and setting ground rules for yourself all the way through taking breaks often and embracing mistake, you're going to find those big ideas will start blowing in no time. Have a great day.

Wishing you peace, positivity and prosperity, while acknowledging that we all have a lot of work to do. Catch you on the flip side.