Creative Imagination

Creative Imagination
Creative imagination is more than just active imagination. To be able to actively imagine things,
to see and hear things in one’s mind, is an important ability. It doesn’t have to involve much
creativity, though, does it? Daydreaming, for example, is a process of imagination. It can consist
of an elaborate fantasy world, but one full of all the things that many people think about.
Creative imagination, then, has to include the ability not just to imagine things, but to imagine
original things. It is seeing things that others don’t see, and coming up with new ideas. So how do
you cultivate this?
Creative Imagination 101
First, exercise your basic imagination. It can be as simple as thinking in pictures more, or listening
to music in your mind. Play little “movies” in your mind, until you can watch them on command.
This is a simple process, but for those of us that can’t easily do it naturally, it can take a lot of
practice. Fortunately, it is not an unpleasant activity.
The second part of developing your creative imagination is to get more creative in your thinking
and imagining. Start by paying attention to your creativity. Our subconscious minds give us more
of what we pay attention to. Ignore creative aspects of your life, and you’re telling your
subconscious they are unimportant. On the other hand, if you note when you’re creative, your
subconscious mind will start feeding you more creative ideas.
Different surroundings can also encourage your creativity. Want more creativity in your love life?
Hike up a mountain with your partner. Do you write? Try sitting on a roof to write. Want new ideas
for your business? Take a notebook to the park and sit by the duck pond. A change of
environment can get your thinking out of it’s ruts.
You can play games that exercise your creative imagination. One such game uses a technique
called “concept combination.” Alone or with other players, you combine random concepts or
things in new ways, to see who has the best idea. A thermometer and a billboard, for example,
could generate an idea for a sign that checks the weather and adjusts the message accordingly
(“Come in out of the heat for a cold beverage,” or “Come in out of the rain and warm up with our
gourmet coffee.”).
Don’t Wait For Creative Imagination
Creative inspiration certainly can strike at any time, but it strikes more often when there is work
instead of waiting. So if you want to come up with creative inventions, start mentally redesigning
everything you see. Imagine a better bicycle, a faster mail service, or a better chair. Continue this
for three weeks, and it will become a habit.
Of course, creative imagination goes beyond solving specific problems or inventing things. Truly
creative minds are always coming up with the questions too, not just the solutions. If you want to
be more creative all the time, focus on three things:
1. Changing your perspective. A child might think that working just to not work (to retire) is silly.
Thinking from that perspective might give you ideas for how to make money doing things you
enjoy. Seeing the world as a bear sees it might give a painter imaginative new ideas. Looking at
things from a customer’s perspective is a sure way to find creative improvements for a business.
See everything from several perspectives.
2. Challenging your assumptions. What if restaurants didn’t have employees? Visitors pay a
machine as they enter, feed themselves at a buffet, and everything is as automated as possible,
so one owner-operator could run a large restaurant alone. Challenge all your assumptions for
practice. Do you really have to pay rent? Do swimming pools need water? Can exercise be a bad
thing?
3. Let your ideas run wild. Does a flying bed seem silly? It could lead to the concept of a helium
mattress. When you get off it in the morning, it floats out of the way, up to the ceiling. Perfect for
small apartments. Don’t stifle your creativity. Relax, and let ideas come. You can always discard
them later.
For these techniques to be a habitual part of your thinking, use them regularly. Since it takes
several weeks to develop a habit, remind yourself to use them each day. Jot a few of your favorite
techniques on a card and carry it with you. Look it over throughout the day and apply the
techniques to anything. Soon, you’ll have a more creative imagination.

Creative Imagination

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Creative Imagination

Creative Imagination 101

Don’t Wait For Creative Imagination

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