How To Be More Creative, Here, Today, Right Now

If you’ve struggled to create without major struggle or heartache lately, here are 3 steps you can take today to help you begin to enjoy the full range of your creativity once again:

1. Choose to be creative. Creativity begins in the mind, and it begins with a choice. If you feel you’re not as creative as you could be right now, then remember the choices you have. What if you were actually choosing not to be creative? If to be creative you need to have certain fundamental elements in place – such as creating everyday, capturing your ideas, getting support and acknowledging your progress – and you’re not doing any of those, then you’re choosing not to be creative. It may seem like a harsh statement, but the flip side is the most liberating idea possible for your creativity. YOU choose how creative you are, and you can choose to be more creative starting this moment. The first step is to say it out loud: “I’m choosing to be creative. I’m choosing creativity.”
2. Believe you’re creative. Once you’ve made the conscious choice to be more creative, it’s time to have an honest appraisal of what you actually believe. If you’re sending the message to yourself: “I’m choosing to be creative (but, er, I don't really have any creative talent, and, um, I don’t really think I can be creative on a regular basis),” then obviously that will always hold you back. Ask yourself: “What would I need to believe to be as creative as I could be? What do highly creative people believe about themselves and their creativity?” Trust that you know the answers, write them out and start repeating them to yourself to build strong positive beliefs.
3. Show you’re creative. The first two steps here looked at your thoughts around creativity. Now it’s time to stand by your new positive convictions and back them up with action. One way to do this is pick a small, enjoyable project to start with, without any expectation of a perfect end “product." If you’re a writer, experiment with some new ways of writing or a few writing prompts. If you’re a painter, choose a few colors to explore on your canvas, or a single idea or theme you’re interested in. Whatever creative form you work in, start creating in a small way today. Then tomorrow do a little more, then the same the next day and the next day.

Creating is not meant to torment us, it’s an experience that can bring us pleasure, peace and reward like nothing else. Take these 3 steps, starting today, and give yourself the chance to enjoy your creativity once again.