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As you know, creativity is a multifaceted concept. Creativity can be expressed in various ways: in the form of abstract ideas or through the expression of one's own self through drawings, paintings, photographs, words, fashionable images, etc.
Numerous studies by neuroscientists have shown that the creative process involves not just one area, but the entire brain. Thus, any creative activity involves close conscious and unconscious interaction between different cognitive systems and human emotions.
It is interesting that the creative process starts only when we are not busy with other tasks, i.e. we consciously free our brain for new ideas. At this time, we can reflect on our personal experience, draw conclusions from various situations, and realize what they mean to us personally. In addition, we can assume how other people felt in the same situation, “write” an alternative scenario, and analyze both our own and others' mental and emotional states. The “free” brain also triggers our imagination, so it's easy to create and come up with new ideas in this state. This state is also called “streaming”.
How do I enter the “streaming” state?
Here are a few ways to help you and your kids “open up” to the flow of creativity.
Launching a creative game
Free role-playing is a great way to develop creative thinking and become involved in an endless source of new ideas. During the game, the brain is relaxed and ready to “try on” different points of view along with the roles of the characters. The game format allows us to freely express any emotions and open up to various, sometimes the most unusual ideas.
The game can be a source of inspiration not only for children but also for adults. Research has shown that if you incorporate a playful element into your work or study process, it will become more joyful and, therefore, more productive.
Dreams are not a waste of time
It would seem, what can be the use of empty dreams? However, research has shown that it is by dreaming that the brain enters a “wandering” state and thereby opens up to the best ideas. Activities that “allow” the brain to let go of everything include walking, drawing, and cleaning.
Why being alone is sometimes good
Everyone should have their own space where they can be alone with themselves. The time when we retire can really “nourish” the creative mind, giving you new creative ideas.
When we focus on the outside world, when we are forced to listen to and respond to external stimuli, our imagination shuts off. When we are alone, we enter a different space where we can reflect, make connections, search for meanings and explore our own inner world.
The role of intuition in the creative process
Intuitive knowledge of certain things or processes is due to the unconscious processing of incoming information. An intuitive understanding of reality plays an important role in influencing how we think, reason, create, and behave in society. Over the past thirty years, cognitive scientists have demystified the powers of the unconscious, leading to the recognition of the dual process theory of human cognition, also known as the “fast and slow brain” theory. Intuition is considered part of the “fast” brain system.
The “fast” brain is more complex than the “slow” brain. With its help, new information is assimilated into existing knowledge structures, and it also allows us to recognize complex patterns and establish unconventional connections between things, which leads to the creation of new original ideas and solutions.
A “fast” brain is necessary for generating ideas, while a “slow” brain is indispensable for processing, analyzing them and in order to determine their possible applications.
Be open
Openness to new experiences is an important aspect of creative development and a key point on the way to any creative achievement.
Intellectual openness means searching for the truth and striving to bring your ideas to life. Aesthetic openness involves exploring the various manifestations of fantasy in art and the emotional need to create beauty around you. Affective openness is the desire to learn and analyze deep human emotions and feelings.
Research shows that the desire to learn new things and curiosity are much more important than human intelligence alone.
Openness to new things enhances the ability to integrate, which is important for the creative process — the ability to recognize patterns and find connections between different parts of reality or information.
Mindfulness is the key to success
The “here and now” state has several advantages: our concentration improves, the ability to self-analyze and self-regulate takes root, the learning process improves, and the overall sense of well-being increases. All of these points have a positive effect on cognitive and creative processes in our brain.
We develop sensitivity
A subtle perception of the world has a very beneficial effect on a person's ability to creatively express their feelings and emotions.
It is useful to develop sensory sensations of sounds, smells, tastes and colors, for example, to represent them in the form of images, to connect them with each other, etc.
By the way, a neurological phenomenon in which a person connects a signal from one sensory organ to another is called synesthesia. Many famous artists have been synesthetes. For example, the writer Vladimir Nabokov “sensed” the color of the letters, while the composer Alexander Scriabin “sensed” the notes.
We creatively process negative experiences
Any experience can be a source of inspiration, personal growth and transformation. By overcoming difficulties, we discover our own strength and beauty.
Negative experiences can help us reconsider our beliefs, open up to new things, and replace old belief systems with new ones.
As for positive experiences, they can also be a powerful incentive for creative activity. Positive events increase our confidence and motivation to take action.
Thus, any experience can be a reason to express yourself through creativity, help someone else think about a similar situation, and inspire other people to new achievements.
Don't be afraid of experiments
Creative people often do things differently than others. This helps them to be open to new ideas as well as accept themselves as they are and therefore allow others to do the same.
Try to do things that seem impossible. Trust your inner voice. Experiment!
If you want your child to become more creative and develop creativity, as well as logical and mathematical thinking, sign up for a free one trial lesson on programming for the Progkids online school. All lessons are held in an individual format, as well as at a time convenient for you and your child, which makes them as comfortable as possible. Experienced teachers take a unique approach to each young talent and encourage students to undertake any creative endeavors. Our school has an internal educational platform where you can learn programming in a game format. Moreover, your child can create art using AI, learn to start their own blog, or create animated music videos. By the way, our school has its own online space where students share news, creative projects and achievements, participate in competitions, and play Minecraft and other games with teachers.
