Ten Roadblocks to Creative Success
To stay competitive in the world of work today, you must use
your imagination and creativity. These innate gifts have the
potential to give us an edge in business and in life, yet we are
often blocked and fail to accomplish the projects we intend to.
Creativity is one of the most essential of human talents. You
have all the creativity you need to accomplish your goals. Your
creative ideas provide you with tools for meeting challenges and
coping with adversity.
Creativity means, by definition, change. There is often strong
resistance to change, so it is natural that barriers would be in
our way. There are inner and outer obstacles eclipsing your
creative process and projects. How do you unblock the creativity
within you? Here are ten specific obstacles to creative success
in business, and some ideas to overcome them.
~ROADBLOCK 1 - Lack of Vision Many people think too small about
what they can potentially accomplish. They stay inside the
comfort zone of what they imagine is currently possible for
them. They fail to use their imagination to think bigger about
possibilities, and don't expect a positive outcome.
Solution Think Big! Sharpen your visionary skills. Take time to
dream, to visualize a positive outcome, and to develop a strong
compelling vision for what you want to create. Write our your
vision as if it were happening right now in the present, and get
in touch with the emotions and sensations you feel once you
imagine your vision accomplished. Make a mind-map to capture all
your big ideas. Create a 'Vision Canvas' - a collage that
represents your vision - by placing images and words on paper.
~ROADBLOCK 2 - Lack of Inspiration Many people say they are
waiting for inspiration before they start a creative project.
It's often a long wait!
Solution Surround yourself with inspiration. Be open to the
inspiration that is all around you, moment to moment. Savor
everyday wonders, and carry a journal with you to capture random
ideas. Go places that spark your imagination, for example, art
galleries, museums, or live theatre, music or dance events. If
you're stuck looking for a solution, go do something completely
different. When Einstein got stuck on a difficult concept, he
would often go into another room to play his violin. A solution
would often come to mind when he returned to the problem.
Exercising his mind in a different way boosted his creativity
for the work he was doing.
~ROADBLOCK 3 - Procrastination Procrastination, the habit of
putting tasks off to the last possible minute, can be a major
problem in business. Missed opportunities, frenzied work hours,
stress, overwhelm, resentment, and guilt are just some of the
symptoms.
Solution Thinking of a task as one big whole that you have to
complete will virtually ensure that you put it off. Break your
projects into small tasks, and take action on those. Thinking
that you absolutely have to do something is a major reason for
procrastination, so give yourself permission to not do anything
you really don't want to do. Even though there may be serious
consequences, you are always free to choose. Procrastination
becomes less likely on tasks that you openly and freely choose
to undertake.
~ROADBLOCK 4 - Overcommitted & Overwhelmed Overwhelm can be
described having too much to do, or perceiving that what you
have to do is too much. Distractions rob us of the productive
use of time and contribute to the feeling of overwhelm. Saying
yes to every request made of you and taking on too many
responsibilities can quickly lead to burnout.
Solution Creativity needs time and space to flourish. Slow down
and reduce your commitments. Learn to say no. Make a short list
of what is important to you that you will say yes to, and say no
to everything else. Give your mind time to wander.
~ROADBLOCK 5 - Clutter Clutter is often a symptom of unfinished
business, indecision, procrastination, and disorganization. It
represents the past. Creativity is in the future.
Solution Maintain an inspiring, uncluttered environment that is
supportive of your work. Create a space for your creative work
separate from where you pay your bills and have responsibilities
so that your creative imagination can flourish.
~ROADBLOCK 6 - Unbalanced Thinking Men and women create
differently. Men typically create in a linear, step by step
fashion, while women create in a more holistic, spiral fashion.
Men tend to start with A and end at Z, while women see the whole
picture all at once, then sort out the details in a random
order.
Solution Become aware of your preferred style of thinking and
creating. Balance linear thinking with holistic thinking.
Balance imagination with strategy. Balance left brain thinking
with right brain activities.
~ROADBLOCK 7 - Confusion and Indecision Too many ideas, so
little time! Often we have competing ideas or goals. Many times,
we have conflicting intentions which tend to cancel each other
out - for example, wanting to have more business while also
wanting more free time. The effect is that nothing happens, and
we can't decide which one to choose.
Solution Focus your intent and energize your will to make clear
choices, prioritize, and get into action. Train your mind and
wise inner self to find the answers you already have inside.
Trust your intuition; it will always lead you to the next right
action. Prioritize, choose, act.
~ROADBLOCK 8 - Isolation Creative people are often alone with
their vision and ideas. Creativity can't exist in a vacuum.
Solution When you feel alone on your path, remember that you can
share your journey. Support from others is key for
brainstorming, inspiration, encouragement, and accountability.
Share your ideas with positive people. Connecting with other
creative souls jump starts your creativity faster than anything
else.
~ROADBLOCK 9 - Negative Mind Chatter Doubts, fears, anxieties,
worries, and other negative thoughts hinder the creative mind.
Solution There are many strategies to get unstuck when the inner
critic comes knocking on your door. Befriend this negative voice
in your mind. Replace negative or unconscious thoughts through
practices designed to tap your creative forces. Try to release
self-judgment or criticism while in creative moments. Give
yourself permission to fail. Shift your thinking from 'I'm not a
creative person' to 'I bring creativity and imagination to
everything I do'.
~ROADBLOCK 10 - No Clear Plan of Action Vague thinking or no
thought given to a plan or project timeline or to the small
goals that could bring you closer to your big creative goal will
stop creative action in its tracks.
Solution Create a simple plan of action, give yourself a
deadline, and hold your self accountable to the commitments you
make to yourself.
You can learn to rely on your creativity to improve the quality
of your life and business. Taking action on any one of the above
items will get you on the path to completing the things that
really matter to you and to finishing your most meaningful,
creative projects.
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