Consume as much as you can from different sources
““True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.””
You must feed your mind with as many inputs as possible to be creative.
Why?
Because creativity is about ‘connecting the dots’, the more dots you have, the more connections you can make.
To generate the maximum number of associations, you must be an avid consumer of ideas, art, music, books, blogs, film and other media.
No idea is 100% original; it has to come from the remix of existing ideas.
But does it matter where you get your inspiration? And are all ‘inputs’ of equal quality?
A trashy Netflix show could be as informative to your idea development process as reading a great literary classic.
But it shouldn’t be your only source of inspiration.
Ultimately, it’s about having a varied information diet: not just ‘junk’ food like mindless scrolling on social media, but also ‘high-quality’ food like reading a thought-provoking book or engaging in a stimulating conversation.
Repetitively consuming the same type of content is the worst thing you can do for your creativity. It can quickly lead to stale and repetitive ideas, hindering your creative growth.
Great creative minds understand this and continuously reinvent themselves by trying new things and exposing themselves to new ideas.
Just look at the number of alter egos David Bowie had throughout his career.
With this in mind, here are some thought starters for trying something fresh:
Eat at a restaurant you are unfamiliar with. Even better, make it an unfamiliar style of food.
Wander around a new area and see where it takes you.
Talk to a stranger. This behaviour is also scientifically proven to increase happiness, a bonus.
Watch a random Netflix documentary.
Learn a new language with the Duolingo app.
Read a bestselling book from a genre you don’t usually read.
If you’re looking for more ways to be more creative, why not sign up for our How To Be More Creative course featuring some of the world’s top experts and certified by Cannes Lions.
