The idea of creativity has been a fascination of mine for the last decade. I have read so many books on cultivating creativity in our lives. Some of my favourites are Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon, and The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp.
But should we constantly be working on our creativity to wait to experience a breakthrough?
Perhaps my passion (or obsession) with creativity stems from the fact that I did not play too much as a young girl. I was very different form my active, fun-driven siblings. I did
have an active imagination, but that only got me labelled as a daydreamer. Since daydreaming was deemed a waste of time, I couldn’t wait to be old (Ha!) As an adult, I make “play” a priority. Some may call it a mid-life crisis; I call it aging in reverse, a sort of Benjamin Button-ing if you will.
An attitude of play definitely nurtures creativity and is best observed in children. Any creative blocks I’ve experienced are rooted in overthinking and trying to produce a result. And although play is important to me, old, tired beliefs can creep through in my life at any given moment. That leads to more frustrations, blocks and a feeling my life is on repeat, almost like I’m running in circles.
Thankfully, I am wise enough to know that these blocks are temporary. And thankfully, maybe by synchronicity, I discovered the “30 Circles Exercise” by the Harvard Business Review Blog. It was designed by Ideo thought leaders Tom Kelley and David Kelley.
To complete the exercise, you need a pen or pencil, and a worksheet that includes 30 circles. You must turn the circles into as many different recognizable objects as you can in three minutes.
This simple activity got me un-stuck! The mundane pie and pizza doodles turned into some really funny faces and objects. ! I love how the activity is timed as well. I was focused and immersed in the task. If done in groups, any brainstorming or analysis can be done after the activity. I usually hate anything that involves drawing, but I must say, I discovered I have my own unique style! Most importantly, this activity shows how a breakthrough can occur in many different ways when you least expect it.
Here is the link to the exercise; https://hbr.org/2013/11/three-creativity-challenges-from-ideos-leaders
How do creative breakthroughs show up in your life?