Increase Your Creativity

I like to think that I’m a creative person and even if I’m not, it’s a huge part of my job.  I’m constantly looking to engage students into the story of Christ and that’s done through a variety of ways.  Delivering messages, coming up with visuals and sharing the story of Christ all involve creativity.  Unfortunately, I’ll have moments, days and even seasons when coming up with something is a struggle.  

Hitting creative blocks are no fun.  Maybe you have a deadline looming, you try to start your message, or keynote.  Maybe you are working on an activity or putting together a playlist for your worship band.  You need to be creative; however, all that’s coming out is YUCK!  It happens, it’s normal it’s a part of ministry and it’s a part of life.  While there aren’t ways to avoid lulls of creativity there are steps you can take to help you move through them.  It starts with:

• Capturing Your Ideas: The best way to avoid creative blocks is by capturing ideas, thoughts, articles and everything else that comes across your plate.  Even if you do not know what to do with it seize it and save it for later.  I utilize Pinterest, Evernote and a good ole notebook to help me capture my ideas.

• Engaging In Hobbies: It’s through the things we enjoy where creativity is unleashed.  Whether you run or build model airplanes you need something that is going to challenge your mind in a different way than work.  Hobbies help you break up the monotony of the day and unlike media (i.e. television) it doesn’t drain the creative juices.

• Exploring Other Artists: Creativity can be unleashed through inspiration.  If you struggle to write, read a book.  If you struggle to create a song, listen to your favorite artists.  The more you learn from experts, the more you build to your repertoire   Remind yourself why it is you love to create. 

• Taking A Breather: If you work too hard, you’ll wear yourself out.  A tired mind struggles to be creative.  Make sure you are enjoying the Sabbath, getting enough sleep and just taking time to breathe.

Increasing your creativity is like working out a muscle.  Sometimes you need to challenge it, other times it needs to rest.  Build up habits that will promote it and guard your mind so that when you hit the creative blocks you know how to get through them.

How do you increase your creativity?