Creativity is an exceptional blend of personal traits.
Two close friends. A rainy day. Coffee at Starbucks. Engaging conversations about life, the world, and the best desserts. A query about my upcoming book on creativity: “What are some of the traits of creative individuals?”
As per a article on Scientific American, creative endeavors involve combining different elements and influences uniquely or surprisingly, with various states, traits, and behaviors often coexisting in the mind of the creative person. Essentially, creative people have discovered that their creativity is a blend of various interests, influences, and behaviors a blend often and consistently practiced every day.
10 Essential Creative Behaviors
Interestingly, we all possess one or more of these behaviors. We exhibit some of them as children, and we become aware of others as we enter the workforce. The ultimate truth of creativity is that all these behaviors are available to those eager to enhance or expand their “Creativity Quotient.” Let’s explore.
1. Creative individuals seek possibilities rather than absolutes.
Creative individuals are uncomfortable with the status quo. To them, a creative life is one of choices, potential opportunities, and alternatives. They don’t simply accept what others do; instead, they seek multiple responses and perspectives. In fact, the most powerful question they often ask is one that begins with “What if…?”
2. Creative individuals are visionaries dreamers.
Daydreaming, from a creativity perspective, is a positive thing. It’s not something we should discourage as we engage in intellectual tasks.
Allowing one’s mind to wander is an opportunity to let our creative faculties develop and flourish. This is mental play at its best — a robust practice where creative thinking is nurtured and celebrated.
3. Creative individuals spend significant time outdoors.
Nature can evoke a creative mindset by making us more curious and willing to embrace novel ideas and by stimulating us to become more flexible thinkers. “Nature is the great visible engine of creativity, against which all other creative efforts are measured,” said Terrance McKenna in a conversation in the early ‘90s. “Clearly, human creativity stems from the boundless creativity found in nature.”
4. Creative individuals are open to learning new things.
Their basic schooling sets the stage for further learning and growth, opening doors to more educational prospects. Creative individuals embrace a lifelong learning journey in a wide variety of fields — often areas having little to do with their occupational expertise. A teacher who takes a cooking class. An architect who goes on an archaeological tour of Greece. A dentist who enjoys learning about China’s past through reading books. A writer who learns to tap dance.
5. Creative individuals reflect and practice mindfulness.
Research reported in the Harvard Business Review indicated that just 10 minutes of reflection daily can enhance our creative powers. The simple act of “taking time off” is sufficient to quiet the mind and offer opportunities to create and innovate. The key is to make reflection and mindfulness a regular part of our daily activities — a commitment to find a quiet space and let our thoughts flow.
6. Creative individuals are independent.
They can make their own decisions and fully execute them. They don’t necessarily require advice and guidance from others; they can think (and act) for themselves. They are open to taking on new challenges without the need for approval from others. Although they will collaborate with others, they often consider their best work to be solo endeavors.
7. Creative individuals are receptive.
Open-minded individuals readily embrace innovative ideas and new ways of doing things. They are often able to appreciate the process from start to finish because they eagerly pursue all the unique ways of examining the intricacies of that experience. They explore various possibilities rather than just looking for a single correct answer. They enjoy trying new things for the sake of it. For them, each new situation is a learning opportunity, not necessarily a necessary evil.
8. Creative individuals are passionate.
They pursue their dreams — experiencing new adventures simply because they offer new opportunities. They don’t necessarily follow the conventional path but rather the less traveled one, the sights unseen. They find joy in their passions and are eager to share them with others. They are, in so many ways, optimistic explorers of the unexplored world.
9. Creative individuals are risk-takers.
They take chances. They explore the unknown — not necessarily because it will lead to something successful but rather because it’s new. They’re willing to step out of their comfort zone and toy with novel ideas. Most importantly, they are not afraid of failure because they view failure as a learning opportunity. Or, to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, “People succeed when they realize that their failures are the groundwork for their successes.”
10. Creative individuals exercise creativity regularly.
For creative individuals, creativity is not a sporadic activity but rather a lifelong commitment. According to my upcoming book (see References), when we make creativity a regular habit, we are “training” our minds to address all kinds of mental challenges.
It’s akin to training for a marathon. You need to run several days (actually, many years) before the big event to be competitive. Without that daily practice, you risk not finishing. The same holds true for creativity.
Conclusion
One thing about the list above there is absolutely no mention of intelligence or IQ level. As shared in previous chapters, high intelligence is not a prerequisite for creativity. Being highly intelligent and being highly creative may, in fact, be two entirely different concepts.
What is more important especially for those who wish to enhance their creativity is to continually pursue, stimulate, and leverage the traits above. Every day!