Creativity on Call: Break Out of the Crater

We are inherently creative. Yet some times we are paralyzed by our own critical thinking that brings our creativity to a jolting halt. We manage to strangle the flow. Creative thinking is crucial when we are trying to solve a tough problem, when we are presenting a solution for a brand make over or when we are giving birth to a new brand. The trick is I believe, to change the perspective and see things from a different vantage point than currently do.

The popular adage "think out of the box" is what we like to talk about. However, the reality is you still have to reside within the "box" to be accepted within the "existing paradigm": all you have to to do is make the box fluid; meaning you define the parameters of the box. I love the Japanese concept of kaizen. It is the idea that big changes occur not through a one time big action but through the accumulation of thousands of tiny little actions. What is so cool about this concept is that it fools the brain into thinking that you are not faced with any challenge. Our evolution dictates that when we are faced with a challenge the neo-cortex or the higher thinking brain shuts down and the primitive reptile brain takes over. And, when the amygdala takes over you shoot down the ability to do any kind of creative problem solving. You are operating on a fight or flight reptilian level. The key to hacking your brain is to get into the discipline of doing something creative, however insignificant it might be. After all, it took 10,000 experiments before the incandescent light bulb was manifested. Here are 10 mental blocks that we set up for ourselves. Sounds familiar?

---