It is a common myth that creativity is genetic – that some people are just born creative. The reality is that we can all train our brains to become more creative. People who are good at having ideas are good at seeing connections where others may not. By enhancing your ability to see connections, you can enhance your creativity.
If you watch a creative person think, you will find that they are often interested in many completely different types of subjects and are adept at drawing connections across them – like a doctor interested in art who finds a way to treat his patients using music. They will often think in analogical, web-like patterns – connecting all sorts of things that others would never put together. Something to be said for “being all over the place”!
Did you know how Velcro was created? Another classic example of making creative connections! George de Mestral invented Velcro in 1948 when he found his dog covered with burrs from a walk in the woods. When he found the burrs difficult to remove, he examined them under a microscope. He found little hooks at the tips of the burrs, which were holding on to the dog’s fur. He made a connection from this observation that led to the creative use of this ability resulting in what we now know as Velcro.
Here are a few simple ways to get into the habit of generating more (and different) ideas:
- Think of a few everyday objects and imagine alternative uses for these items – something very different from their “traditional” use – what would you do with a Pot lid, Empty Ketchup Bottle, Candle, Bicycle Tire?
- Make visual connections between items you wouldn’t normally think of together. What can you imagine when you think of these together?
- A Snowman and a Pencil
- A Lightbulb and a Globe
- A Cloud and a Snowman
- A Book and a Dog
- A Shoe and a Worm
I would love to know what creative connections you were able to come up with. Please share your ideas and comments below!
Next Time – Read about the Neuroscience of Creativity