Thursday, September 01, 2005
Stimulating your Creativity
The mind needs stimulation to be creative. Sensory inputs get stored in your memory where they combine with new inputs to trigger new ideas or perspectives. By giving your mind fresh inputs each day, you increase these building blocks for creative thinking.
How do you get new memory inputs? Do something new each day. Eat different foods, listen to different radio stations, read different magazines, take a stroll through a busy shopping centre. Keep your all your senses open to experience the sight, taste, touch and smell of things.
http://www.creativityboosters.com/
The mind needs stimulation to be creative. Sensory inputs get stored in your memory where they combine with new inputs to trigger new ideas or perspectives. By giving your mind fresh inputs each day, you increase these building blocks for creative thinking.
How do you get new memory inputs? Do something new each day. Eat different foods, listen to different radio stations, read different magazines, take a stroll through a busy shopping centre. Keep your all your senses open to experience the sight, taste, touch and smell of things.
http://www.creativityboosters.com/
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Affirmations and Creativity
Affirmations are a useful method of "programming" your mind to act in a particular way. For example, you can use them to increase your confidence in your personal creative abilities. Select some affirmations that "speak" to your concerns or self-doubts and make it a habit to read them every morning and evening during a quiet time. Better yet, carry a notepad with the key affirmations with you. You can also place reminders on your desk, the fridge, etc. to remind you to say them during the day.
Some affirmations you may want to try to increase your creativity are:
Affirmations are a useful method of "programming" your mind to act in a particular way. For example, you can use them to increase your confidence in your personal creative abilities. Select some affirmations that "speak" to your concerns or self-doubts and make it a habit to read them every morning and evening during a quiet time. Better yet, carry a notepad with the key affirmations with you. You can also place reminders on your desk, the fridge, etc. to remind you to say them during the day.
Some affirmations you may want to try to increase your creativity are:
- I have rich creative talents
- I am willing to experience my creative energy
- I am a brilliant and successful artist
- I deserve a rewarding creative life
http://www.creativityboosters.com/
Monday, August 29, 2005
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Most people are familiar with acupuncture. Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT is a form of "emotional acupressure." EFT works by removing negative emotions or beliefs that can have a profound effect on our attitudes and self-perceptions. The process itself is simple to learn. Basically it involves tapping different acupressure points while stating the problem that is holding you back. The technique has been used successfully for a wide range of problems, ranging from eliminating phobias to improving sports performance. It can also be used to enhance your creativity by getting rid of negative attitudes that stifle the creative process. For example, many people sabotage themselves by convincing themselves that they are not creative or will never be able to come up with a really innovative solution to a problem. By applying the EFT technique you can overcome these obstacles and open the door for great new ideas.
http://www.creativityboosters.com/
Most people are familiar with acupuncture. Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT is a form of "emotional acupressure." EFT works by removing negative emotions or beliefs that can have a profound effect on our attitudes and self-perceptions. The process itself is simple to learn. Basically it involves tapping different acupressure points while stating the problem that is holding you back. The technique has been used successfully for a wide range of problems, ranging from eliminating phobias to improving sports performance. It can also be used to enhance your creativity by getting rid of negative attitudes that stifle the creative process. For example, many people sabotage themselves by convincing themselves that they are not creative or will never be able to come up with a really innovative solution to a problem. By applying the EFT technique you can overcome these obstacles and open the door for great new ideas.
http://www.creativityboosters.com/
Friday, August 26, 2005
Doodling to Creativity
Doodling provides a way of dipping into our unconscious mind to engage our creativity. It allows us to access the symbolic language used by our subconscious to help us see solutions that might otherwise escape our notice.
To practice doodling, simply focus on the problem that you are trying to solve. Hold this thought in your mind and allow yourself to go into a blank stare or soft focus, preferably on a neutral background (the sky, a white wall, neutral carpet). As ideas and feelings come to mind simply doodle them onto a piece of white paper.
Another approach is to discuss the problem with a friend. While you are discussing it, doodle on a piece of white paper. Continue to doodle as you talk and listen. Don’t interpret or inhibit what you are drawing.
When you are finished doodling, set the paper aside for a period of time. When your mind is fresh, look at what you’ve drawn. Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings that come to mind as you look at the drawings. Relate these thoughts and feelings to the problem that you are trying to resolve to see what solutions appear.
http://www.creativityboosters.com/
Doodling provides a way of dipping into our unconscious mind to engage our creativity. It allows us to access the symbolic language used by our subconscious to help us see solutions that might otherwise escape our notice.
To practice doodling, simply focus on the problem that you are trying to solve. Hold this thought in your mind and allow yourself to go into a blank stare or soft focus, preferably on a neutral background (the sky, a white wall, neutral carpet). As ideas and feelings come to mind simply doodle them onto a piece of white paper.
Another approach is to discuss the problem with a friend. While you are discussing it, doodle on a piece of white paper. Continue to doodle as you talk and listen. Don’t interpret or inhibit what you are drawing.
When you are finished doodling, set the paper aside for a period of time. When your mind is fresh, look at what you’ve drawn. Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings that come to mind as you look at the drawings. Relate these thoughts and feelings to the problem that you are trying to resolve to see what solutions appear.
http://www.creativityboosters.com/
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Brainwaves and Creativity
The brain normally operates at different frequencies depending on the type of mental activity involved. These frequencies are divided into four main types of brainwave patterns:
The brain normally operates at different frequencies depending on the type of mental activity involved. These frequencies are divided into four main types of brainwave patterns:
- Beta waves (between 13-40 HZ) are associated with peak concentration, heightened alertness and visual acuity.
- Alpha waves (between 7-12 HZ) are associated with deep relaxation and are considered the gateway to our creativity
- Theta waves (between 4-7 HZ) are associated with the twilight state that we experience fleetingly as we drift off to sleep and are strongly linked with creativity and intuition.
- Delta waves (between 0-4 HZ.) are associated with deep sleep.
As we slow the brain wave patterns from beta to alpha to theta to delta, there is a corresponding increase in balance or synchronization between the two hemispheres of the brain. Scientists have noted that these slower brainwave patterns are accompanied by deep tranquillity, flashes of creative insight, euphoria, intensely focused attention, and enhanced learning abilities.
Several audio programs are available that make it easy to control brainwave activity. The programs work by using a series of tones at precise frequencies to induce the desired brainwave activity. Many of these programs use a “binaural beat” where different frequencies are delivered to each ear. When listened to using headphones, the two hemispheres of the brain work together to integrate the two sounds & guide the brain into specific frequency patterns.
http://www.creativityboosters.com/
Monday, August 22, 2005
How Glucose Levels Affect Creativity
Glucose, the form of sugar that circulates in the blood, is critical to optimal functioning of the brain. Indeed, glucose is the brain’s exclusive source of fuel. Deficiencies in glucose levels can cause the brain to slow down and malfunction. This blood sugar comes from the foods we eat, particularly from carbohydrates such as sweets and starches. The trick is to make sure that we produce the right amount of glucose to suit our brain’s requirements. For instance, there is evidence that more glucose is burned when the brain is working hard to solve a problem. So in some cases, a quick boost in blood sugar levels may be helpful when the brain is active. However, the bigger problem for most westerners is having too much glucose since the diet of most westerners includes many carbohydrates that are quickly converted to glucose.
The key to proper glucose control is to pick foods that are converted to glucose slowly. In particular, it is important to carefully choose the carbohydrates you eat. Some carbohydrates create sharp rises in blood glucose while others break down gradually and help regulate the flow of glucose to the brain. Not surprisingly, the “fast” or “high glycemic” carbohydrates include items like refined sugars and cookies. But the list of high glycemic foods is not obvious and includes most breads, rice, packaged cereals, and potatoes. On the other hand, foods such as legumes, nuts, pasta, low fat dairy products, most fruits and vegetables are good at delivering a controlled amount of glucose to the cells.
http://www.creativityboosters.com/
Glucose, the form of sugar that circulates in the blood, is critical to optimal functioning of the brain. Indeed, glucose is the brain’s exclusive source of fuel. Deficiencies in glucose levels can cause the brain to slow down and malfunction. This blood sugar comes from the foods we eat, particularly from carbohydrates such as sweets and starches. The trick is to make sure that we produce the right amount of glucose to suit our brain’s requirements. For instance, there is evidence that more glucose is burned when the brain is working hard to solve a problem. So in some cases, a quick boost in blood sugar levels may be helpful when the brain is active. However, the bigger problem for most westerners is having too much glucose since the diet of most westerners includes many carbohydrates that are quickly converted to glucose.
The key to proper glucose control is to pick foods that are converted to glucose slowly. In particular, it is important to carefully choose the carbohydrates you eat. Some carbohydrates create sharp rises in blood glucose while others break down gradually and help regulate the flow of glucose to the brain. Not surprisingly, the “fast” or “high glycemic” carbohydrates include items like refined sugars and cookies. But the list of high glycemic foods is not obvious and includes most breads, rice, packaged cereals, and potatoes. On the other hand, foods such as legumes, nuts, pasta, low fat dairy products, most fruits and vegetables are good at delivering a controlled amount of glucose to the cells.
http://www.creativityboosters.com/
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Edison’s Secrets to Inventing
Edison was one of the world’s most prolific inventors. One of the reasons for his amazing creative output was the system of inventing that he developed. The key components of this system were:
Form a mastermind alliance
Assemble a team of people with different areas of expertise and work together to develop innovative solutions to problems
Set yourself an idea quota
Set yourself clear targets and deadlines to force your brain into high gear
Be persistent
Follow your idea relentlessly, one step at a time
Accept failure as part of the process
Embrace your mistakes. Learn from them and move on.
Keep a record of your ideas
Keep a journal or notebook of all your ideas as they come to you. Often one idea will spawn another in an unrelated field
Commit to your goal
When you make a commitment to succeed you find the energy, ideas and “good luck” to support you
Be playful
Enjoy a childlike sense of curiosity to keep your mind flowing freely
http://www.creativityboosters.com/
Edison was one of the world’s most prolific inventors. One of the reasons for his amazing creative output was the system of inventing that he developed. The key components of this system were:
Form a mastermind alliance
Assemble a team of people with different areas of expertise and work together to develop innovative solutions to problems
Set yourself an idea quota
Set yourself clear targets and deadlines to force your brain into high gear
Be persistent
Follow your idea relentlessly, one step at a time
Accept failure as part of the process
Embrace your mistakes. Learn from them and move on.
Keep a record of your ideas
Keep a journal or notebook of all your ideas as they come to you. Often one idea will spawn another in an unrelated field
Commit to your goal
When you make a commitment to succeed you find the energy, ideas and “good luck” to support you
Be playful
Enjoy a childlike sense of curiosity to keep your mind flowing freely
http://www.creativityboosters.com/
