Is this 16^th key in my series of Personal Empowerment (or becoming the best version of yourself) only applicable to artists? Not at all! I want to assure you that everybody will benefit from this key, The Power of Creativity, and its associated benefits.

But, with that said: if you are an artist struggling currently with any form of creative block (writer’s block / artist block), you’ll find the tips in this article easy to follow and highly effective in restoring your mental clarity. You’ll soon be back in the flow zone!

Who Needs the Power of Creativity?

So who needs to tap into the power of creativity? Anyone who has to make any kind of decision on a daily basis. Anyone who needs to find solutions to any problems on a daily basis. Anyone doing any kind of job on a daily basis, whether you get paid for it or not. And lastly, anybody who is looking to live a life in abundance. Let’s look at some examples:

• Your marketing campaign is not so effective any more, and you need to improve your strategy = creativity.
• Your team is not performing, and you need to motivate them in another way = creativity
• Your crops develop new diseases and you must alter your spraying program = creativity.
• One of your family members develop a food allergy and you need to adjust your menu = creativity.
• Your toddler suddenly is not that much into peek-a-boo anymore and you need another way to entertain = creativity.

And obviously all kinds of artists.

Creativity is not a talent but a way of operating. It “is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else ever thought.” – Albert Einstein. It’s also not some super power you either have, or you don’t. The good news is everyone is born with more than enough creativity. Just walk into any house where there are toddlers and have a look at the art displayed against the fridge.

Then life happens. We grow up and we get overwhelmed by everyday life or most of us neglect our creative muscle for too long and that’s when it feels like our well of creative juices has dried up.

A few possible reasons for a creative block (writer’s block / artist block / problem solving block)

Remember, a block is hiding somewhere in your subconscious mind. Otherwise, it won’t have any power over you, and you could just unblock it easily, right? So if you suffer from any form of creative block and you read these reasons, it’s normal to think it doesn’t apply to you. So just try to keep an open mind and don’t just impulsively eliminate any of them.

Fear of failure. Often denied, the fear of failure can lurk in who appears to be the most confident person. Maybe a previous work has received criticism, and now you feel the need to redeem yourself by producing the perfect piece or fool-proof solution. Subconsciously knowing that this is impossible, your mind remains closed like an oyster. Nothing. Nada.

Perfectionism. Nothing seems good enough, as you zoom in on the tiniest “mistake”. Although this attribute might have helped you to produce some of your finest work in the past, it can easily cultivate a fear of failure.

Personal problems. When you are emotionally and physically overwhelmed by an all- consuming event in your personal life, mental exhaustion will set in.

Lack of humor. Being too serious and solemn. All focus and work, and no play. Ever.

Comparing yourself or your work to another’s. You don’t realize in your being that your talent and creativity is unique and authentic, therefor no comparison is possible!

A non-creative belief. You simply don’t believe that you are a creative being. Here I can’t help mentioning that I use a technique called Negative Belief Therapy (NBT) in the Transformation Coaching System™ that I use where you can uproot and get rid of this lie.

Now let’s take a look at what you’re missing out on:

Benefits of creativity / mental clarity

• Drawing or painting increase resilience
• Enhance problem solving skills
• Improves leadership qualities
• Decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Increase positive emotions
• Improve immunity
• Build personal relationships and connections
• Help you find purpose in life
• Increase mindfulness – helps you to stay in the moment, LIVING IN THE NOW!
• Increase productivity

The Open- and Closed Mind

These two states that we normally function in are critical to understand when it comes to creativity. We function with a Closed Mind usually when we are at the office. You are focused, you have deadlines, and you have a general feeling of: so much to do, so little time.  Normally (hopefully) there is a healthy amount of anxiety present that helps you function optimally. Mostly you know what needs to be done, how it needs to be done and when it needs to be done. Because of your past experiences.

On the flipside of the coin is the Open Mind. This is a more relaxed state, even playful. In this mode you have time for curiosity and humor which always accompanies a wider perspective.  You are also not governed by fixed thought patterns, but are more receptive to alternative solutions. The Open Mind is a crucial state to be in for creativity.

John Cleese explains this so brilliantly by using Alexander Fleming as an example. When he discovered penicillin, he arranged some dishes so that culture can grow on them. The next day, when he examined them, he saw that one dish had no culture. Now, if he had a Closed Mind, he would have immediately dismissed the plate, because “it wasn’t of any use to him” and only focused on the rest of the plates where the culture did grow. But luckily for us, he had an Open Mind to curiously examine the plate.

In the closed mode an uncultured dish is an irrelevance. In the open mode, it’s a clue (John Cleese). Unfortunately, some of us get stuck with a Closed Mind for so long, that we begin to believe that this is our normal, or that it is just the way we are – another outright lie that can be removed with NBT.

You need to be able to shift between the modes. Once you have the creative solution, you need to switch to the Closed Mind to implement the idea. Once finished, you need to go back to an Open Mind to review feedback. I mention this because I think it’s relevant, but since the article is about creativity, let’s not wander off too far.

To summarize: To access and harness the power of creativity, you need to have an Open Mind. Humor is a key element in the Open Mind. Crack a joke, play an innocent prank or watch a comedy. Whatever it takes to lighten your mood and get you into a playful state. If that seems to be impossible, here are six more tips I’d like to share with you:

6 Practical tips: How to open your mind and increase creativity

• Write down on a piece of white paper or card: “How can I become more creative than I already am?” Now take some color pencils or paint and decorate the rest of the paper or card to the best of your ability. Stick it on your mirror where you can see it every morning and evening while brushing your teeth, and read it out loud three times, twice a day. This might seem silly, but just try it for 30 days and you’ll be amazed at the outcome. Your subconscious mind loves to solve problems, and will slowly start looking for solutions to become more creative. It’s a fresh, more effective alternative to positive affirmations (“I am creative, I am creative, I am creative”).

• Creativity avoids the comfort zone. Because your comfort zone is mostly your Closed Mind zone. So you need to stretch your comfort zone for creativity to kick in. For more tips on how to stretch your comfort zone, read my article.

• Get outside. Especially if your work is mostly conducted indoors. And leave your electronic devices inside. Not only does sunshine and nature have a way of relaxing you and opening your mind, it also gets those creative juices flowing more freely. You can go for a walk or work in the garden, but be alert and pay attention to what is happening around you. Paying close attention to creation around you will awaken creativity within.

• Lean into boredom. In a fast-paced society where productivity is crucial, boredom can either sound like an unrealistic luxury, or a total waste of time. But when it comes to creativity, it serves a purpose. I’m not talking about neglecting your chores or worse quitting your job, but let’s be honest: there has to be a 90 minute slot somewhere in your week that you usually watch a movie, or Netflix, or aimlessly scroll through your social media news feeds or watch reels. Just to avoid boredom and “keep busy”. Or maybe that’s your idea of “relaxing”. Problem is, although your body might be in a relaxed state, your mind is still working overtime with all the information it receives. Next time, rather lean into that boredom instead. Allow yourself to really relax and “do nothing” for 90 min. Note: set a start and end time for this exercise and stick to it. If there is structure to your boredom, it’s easier to lean into it and enter the flow zone. You might just be surprised at the result! This is not a daily activity; once a week is more than enough. I know there are exceptions here: if you are a working mom with small children, or an entrepreneur starting your own business, or facing one deadline after another at work, this tip might not apply to you right now. Don’t despair, there are 5 other great tips for you to explore!

• Sing and dance. If this is not your “thing”, please refer to Tip #2 above (wink emoji). Music and movement awaken one’s playful nature, putting you in an Open Mind state much quicker. The famous quote dance like no one’s watching comes to mind, but maybe start off in a space where no one is actually watching. Especially if it’s outside your comfort zone. Personal tip: also seek solitude when you have critical teenagers around (crazy wink emoji).

• Find yourself a creative hobby: beading, knitting, crochet, creative writing, painting, woodwork, tapestries, poetry, mosaic, scrapbooking, pottery, origami, calligraphy, song writing, cooking, drawing, doodling, and the list goes on. Sometimes for creativity to start flowing, you actually need to kick-start it by doing. It doesn’t need to be perfect, or even pretty, just start. A few years ago when I was struggling mentally, I decided to build a Barbie-sized dollhouse out of wood and similar materials. During the day, I kept my mind occupied by making plans about how to make a shower head, instead of the issues that I usually turn over and over in my mind without really reaching a solution. Shifting my focus. And Bang! The creative solutions started coming out of nowhere, without me deliberately racking my brain over it. And as a bonus, it ended up being a great bonding project for me and my pre-teen daughter: win-win!

If you’re an artist and you currently suffer from writer’s block or any creative block, and these tips are just not getting those juices flowing, the 20-hour virtual online Transformation Coaching System™ that I use is just what you need.

Contact me TODAY for a free 30 min online Session!

As soon as you drop your mental and emotional baggage, you will Travel Lightly through life with renewed mental clarity. You will be able to enter the flow zone again, embrace the power of creativity and continue your work with buckets full of inspiration

Discover the Power of Creativity

I am a certified Transformation Life Coach operating in Riebeek Kasteel, Western Cape of South Africa. I also do virtual online life coaching sessions, so no matter where you are situated, all you need is an internet connection, a mobile phone or computer, and a space where you can meet with me uninterruptedly once a week for two hours.

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The next key #17 to personal empowerment (becoming the best version of yourself) is the POWER OF PERSONAL CONNECTIONS.