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Bold in Creativity
Endless possibilities to view and solve problems.
Dr. Kristi Campoe
June 12, 2024
Welcome to The Bold Brief—
You are a member of this community of top-notch expert nurses and healthcare professionals who aspire to be “bold” in career and life.
We want to be bold in our life’s purpose and bold in life and career choices to live with authenticity, balance, and meaningful challenge.
So, bold in creativity.
Understanding Your Creativity
Creativity is not just about artistic expression. Creativity is an advanced human ability and personality trait whereby one approaches problems with innovative means and solutions. Your creativity encompasses the ability to see things differently, challenge the status quo, and generate ideas that push boundaries.
In nursing and healthcare, we need our creativity more than ever to bring desirable change to our lives and profession. Also, creativity can help to overcome “it has always been this way” mentality in life and career.
The Evidence to Underpinning Your Creativity
Research shows that individuals who engage in creative activities experience positive emotions, reduced stress, and overall well-being, contributing to a longer, healthier life. 1 Other studies have shown that creative thinking is as essential as exercise or therapy offering benefits akin to mindfulness practices like meditation which are known to enhance longevity.2
In both life and career, creative thinking enhances problem-solving abilities and leads to greater satisfaction. 1 Organizations that foster creativity are also more likely to innovate successfully, attract and retain employees, and adapt to changes effectively.3 Ultimately, creative pursuits help us engage in life and find purpose and fulfillment, crucial for a long and meaningful life.
“A creative life is an amplified life. It's a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life.”
A Step-by-Step Guide to Bolster Your Creativity
Step 1: Rearrange Your Workspace
Transform your workspace to inspire creativity. Introduce items that spark your interest—art, books, a plant, or even a new layout. Or, simply declutter items and sounds that prevent ideation. The change in scenery can stimulate new ideas.
Step 2: Broaden Your Horizons
Actively seek new experiences that broaden your perspective. This could include taking up a new hobby, traveling to unfamiliar places (locally or far), or learning a new skill. Each new activity provides different stimuli that can lead to innovative thinking. Integrate these plans into your annual, monthly, quarterly, and weekly planning to ensure that you are continuously expanding.
Step 3: Engage in Brainstorming Exercises
Dedicate time each week to brainstorming, using methods like the SCAMPER technique (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse) to rethink existing ideas and generate new ones. Record all ideas without judgment.
Don’t live or work without the SCAMPER technique! Read more about SCAMPER here
Step 4: Implement ‘Failure Fridays’
Once a week, engage in an activity where failure is a likely outcome, such as trying to learn a new piece of software in one day or building something you've never built before. Why? When was your first attempt the best? Likely, never. Is failure good? Yes. Learning from iterative approaches and learning to fail comes with experience. This practice reduces the fear of failure, a significant barrier to creativity. On this tangent, leaders should reconsider punishment for failure within organizations.
Step 5: : Reflect and Adjust Regularly
At the end of each week, reflect on what one or all of these new approaches have brought you. Discuss your experiences with a mentor, peer, or coach to gain insights and adjust. This reflection period is crucial for integrating creative thinking into your daily life effectively.
Why This Approach Works
Systematic Expansion of Experience: These steps systematically introduce new experiences and ideas, crucial for breaking out of existing beliefs, cognitive patterns and routines that stifle creativity. This system provides routine stimulation and a broad palette from which to your inspirations.
Structured Creative Practice: Setting aside specific times for brainstorming and risk-taking turns creative thinking into a regular practice rather than a spontaneous act. Habituation helps embed creativity in your everyday processes, making it more accessible and effective, just like exercise or weightlifting.
Learn More About Your Own Creativeness?
Read and Take a FREE Test of Creativity
Big Magic: Creative living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert LINK
Creativity, Inc. Overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration by Ed Catmull LINK
The Epstein Creativity Competencies Inventory for Individuals (ECCI-i) is a reliable, valid test to measure four types of skills that help you to express creativity. The stronger your skills, the more creativity you are likely to express. Free Quiz Link
Conclusion
Embrace creativity to transform how you view and tackle challenges, opening new paths for personal and professional growth. Regular reflection about your creative endeavors allows for small and big adjustments and improvements. This feedback loop is vital for learning from experiences and continually enhancing your creative capabilities in life and work.
The bold career and life that you desire is not just a dream—it's within your reach. Let's make it a reality together.
P.S. If you want to learn from me on a daily basis, connect with me on LinkedIn or in my Facebook Community.
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