Life Creation

Ever heard of Walt Disney? Yes, he’s the guy who created the first sound cartoon, the first all-color cartoon and the first animated feature-length motion picture. Anyone who has managed to bring all of these three together for entertainment is someone with a definite vision. But aside from these, two of Disney’s greatest masterpieces were Disneyland and Walt Disney World, theme parks that capture the imagination of every child, and even every adult.

How did Walt Disney come up with his ideas? What was his vision for his future, and what spurred him on to create his company?

Vision sparks a leader and fires him up to do the things that inspire him the most. It draws him forward and makes everyone want to follow him, a strong leader. When a person doesn’t have a vision in life, one that propels him towards achieving his dreams, then he practically has no direction at all.

So what makes a good leader with vision? Here are a couple of pointers for you to follow.

Vision starts from within. You can’t go around telling people what their vision is nor can they ask you for suggestions on what their vision should be. Vision comes from within, so take a long, hard look at yourself. If you are having a hard time figuring out your vision, think of what interests you and you can start from there. If you’re still not sure what your vision is, look for a partner that shares the same interests and plans as you. Even Walt Disney had one – his brother, Roy.

Vision draws on your history. Look back at your past and figure out the lessons you have learned from your life experiences. Visions don’t materialize overnight. Leaders who have visions in life draw out their sources from what they have learned in the past and the mistakes that they have made.

One great vision is one that aims to meets other people’s needs. It’s not all about you alone—it’s all about drawing other people into your dream and changing their lives. If your vision is restricted solely to helping you fulfill your purpose and not benefiting other people, then it’s too shallow and selfish. Your vision should be something that resonates within other people and enables them to work for that goal as well.

Having a clear vision can help you prepare and gather your resources. One of the best things about working towards your vision is that it helps you attract others. It’s like a magnet. The more powerful the vision is, the more likely people will want to achieve it.

Todays' Featured Article is:

What is keeping you from being more creative? Is it your job? Your family? Your upbringing? Your fear?

Many people who wish they were more creative, say they have had all their creativity crushed right out of them by the demands of life, their jobs, their work schedules, and the negative people all around them. In some cases, parents or teachers made insensitive remarks that crushed the creative hopes of these people when they were very young. Since that time, they haven't found the courage to pursue creativity again.

We wish we weren't embarrassed to try creative pursuits. We may have fears about trying to express ourselves through the arts. We wish we had the courage to try new things, and we wish we had some creative ideas.

Many of us who say we wish we were more creative wish we could come up with some new ideas once in a while, but it feels as if the creative well has run dry.

Why do we lose our creativity as we get older? When we were young children, we were very imaginative. When we were children, we could think of many different ways to use the objects around us. In fact, many of us as children were so imaginative that every object around seemed to have a real personality. It was easy to believe that a broomstick or a toy could come to life. As we grow up, we often lose touch with our imaginative minds.

Is our creative self still there? How can we find it? What can be done to resurrect our inner creative being?

Chances are that your creative self hasn't gone away, it's just buried under a lot of stuff that life has thrown at you. Here are a few ways that can help you reconnect with your inner creativity.

Spend time with young children. Don't play with them simply as an adult.

Let yourself be drawn into their world of imagination. You may be able to get in touch again with the imaginative playful mind within you.

Practice various creativity exercises, such as “imagine ten uses for a hat”. You can make up your own creativity exercises, and then carry them out yourself, or get a creativity buddy to help you.

Look for a teacher, colleague or friend that has the ability to inspire you creatively. Join a club or guild to meet other people who are interested in developing their creativity. If you can't find a teacher or a group who is inspiring, look for books to read about artists who may inspire you.

Do something different than you usually do. If you are usually a homebody, get out and try some new things. Visit new places. If you usually go out socializing every night, try staying home for a change. Afterwards, explore your reactions. Write a song, or a poem about the experience. Compose a dance. Create a short play to explore your reactions to the change in your life.

Carry a notebook with you everywhere you go. Keep a pen and paper beside your bed so that if you wake up with an idea you can capture it. Many people who think they don't have a creative bone in their body, discover that if they carry a notebook with them, they can write down some fleeting creative or artistic ideas that would otherwise get away.

If you can't find people in your life to support your creative ideas, look for inspiration in books, on the internet, or create your own club or support group to spread the creative encouragement around your community.

By: Royane Real

This article was written by Royane Real, author of the popular ebook 'How You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better and Be More Creative' Learn more ways to stimulate your brain creatively.

Creativity is the ability to discover original and innovative solutions to problems. It is represents your capability to think “out of the box” or outside the norm in order to address problems.

Enhancement of creativity refers to the practice of developing creative skills, through exercises, and seminars. It also includes the use of creative tools like your PC, computer softwares, and enrollment in a creative studies program.

Creativity is a skill that can be learned. Creative individuals learn to be “creative”. They logically do it. They consider other alternatives and can easily make “cross-connections”.

Creativity consists of:

• viewing things differently

• producing multiple options

• breaking rules

• establishing new links

• having advanced awareness level

• thinking about “what ifs”

Creativity enhancement tools can make your mind more responsive. The mind is powerful and you will become its master with the right techniques.

Among the countless benefits to be gained in enhancing creativity are the following: improved customer service, increased efficiency, and improved mental and moral health among employees.

Software programs and tools can assist you in designing and initiating better ideas. These can serve as vehicles to jump-start your brain’s productive and creative juices.

Some creativity enhancement tools ask questions, while others depend on a selection of lateral or associative thinking techniques.

Aside from helping in the generation of ideas, these tools can assist you in organizing and prioritizing ideas.

Creativity enhancement tools enable you to:

• produce more solutions

• think new ideas

• make effective decisions so as to solve easily your problems.

• brainstorm and become your very own “think tank”.

Here are some creativity enhancement tools worth checking:

1) “Inspiration 8 for Windows”. This software is user-friendly, with features such as auto-arrange and improved transfer options.

Features:

• starter screen

• searchable signs and symbols

• sound and video integration

• improved “drag-and-drop” capabilities

• collect hyperlinked files

• word guide

• export options

• auto symbol arrangement

• brainstorming mode

• export options

• smart checklist

2) “FlashBrainer”. This software encourages you to come up with ideas employing music, "what" words, questions, "how" words, images and quotes.

Features:

• easy to use, anyone can be an expert quickly

• runs on Macromedia's Flash that is compatible with almost all computers

• uses music and asks easily understood questions all designed to give the user a fun experience

3) “SolutionPeople”. This tool provides a set of comprehensive features but is very easy to use. It allows integration with Microsoft Office and other widely known project application tools like ConceptDraw. SolutionPeople is enjoyed by most business users.

4) “ConceptDraw MINDMAP Pro 4”. This tool is available both in “Mac OS X” and Microsoft versions.

Features:

• with information project task support

• can export software project management

• compatible with Microsoft Office

• with expanded mapping freehand capabilities

• has floating topics and callout support

The invention of creative tools for business, arts, science, and every aspect of life is essential for continued progress. Data and people-oriented innovation and creativity enhancement IT tools can become strategic building blocks that will shape the future.

There are many stories about children advancing from one grade level to another just within a school year, and children mastering their mathematical skills perfectly. You've probably also heard about those kids who quite adept at memorizing the 50 states of the U.S., and in alphabetical order, including their capitals.

It sounds a little crazy at first. What’s up with these children? Are they so intelligent that they can master anything anyone tells them to? Or is their intelligence innate? Is this talent or gift something they got from their parents?

There are many words to describe these types of children. Some are called gifted, while others are called just born naturally so. Yet what we almost always forget is that as small children, and even while still inside the womb of their mothers, they are already being trained in various life aspects, such as communication, visual response, and music. As they grow older and become exposed to a lot of other stimuli, these gifts are developed even more.

This is where Accelerated Learning comes in.

Accelerated Learning is a term coined to describe a series of ways to learn anything about any subject. This system of learning is based on the premise that anyone can learn anything, and tackles the idea of how to learn the actual process of learning, rather than how to learn only.

Accelerated learning is developed from a series of disciplines, including how the brain works, what the theories on human motivation and attention are available, and what theory of intelligence and psychology of optimal performance may be applied.

And while accelerated learning might sound like a far-out term exclusive only to the scientists, the good news is that anybody can learn and master it. Its techniques can be summarized into the following:

1. Always help the student in creating a positive environment through positive messaging, posters, music and even words of encouragement.

2. Encourage positive feedback when any situation or circumstance cals for it.

3. Continuously discuss the benefits of accelerated learning, especially new ideas and strategies.

4. Involve learners in the following: challenge their thinking, provide them case studies, and pose hypothetical problems for them to assess.

5. Present ways for learners to meet challenges through various methods and teach them the different ways of widening their understanding of certain situations and cases.

6. Always provide space for a meaningful discussion and constructive thinking.

7. Always manage to go back to and review the things everyone has learned, how they were learned, and how they can be used.

Of course, accelerated learning is not exclusive to children alone. It's never too late for adults like us to master it, as well. Read up on the subject and always seek to expand your understanding of the things and situations around you. Before you know it, you will find yourself able to comprehend just about anything in just a short period of time.

Creativity is defined as a tendency to produce new ideas, alternatives or possibilities that may be useful in problem solving, communicating with others and entertaining others and us.

What motivates one to be creative?

* A need for novelty * a need to express one’s ideas and * a need to solve problems.

How could one become creative?

In order to be creative you need to view things in different perspective, approach problems in new ways, generate new possibilities for existing problems as new alternatives and express yourself in unique ways such as drawing, painting or creative writing, etc.

We notice certain characteristics in creative individuals. They are:
* Creative individuals are calm. They are often quiet though they have a great deal of energy * they are smart and naïve at the same time * they have a combination of opposite qualities such as playfulness along with discipline and responsibility along with frivolity * they alternate between reality and fantasy * they tend to carry opposite tendencies between extroversion and introversion. They may be introverts in the sense they are often quiet but they are also extroverts when they express their ideas through their creativity.

Creativity is a spontaneous expression of your ideas. Everyone is creative. It is our natural state of being. But we seem to forget this when we are immersed in stress while dealing with our problems in life. Our creativity is in fact boundless. Everyone could create as much as they want to create. Creativity could be expanded by learning and development.

We all are creative but when we are bound by ‘should’s as defined by other people our creativity dies down at its very origin. What are some of these conditions that are levied on creativity?

You should create only when you are inspired – Creativity is a way of living and being spontaneous. How does one wait for an inspiration? Creative individuals seek out new inspiration in everything they come across – they just do not wait for an inspiration to spark their creative ideas.
You should listen to others when they tell you what is best for you – a creative person is unable to stop his own creativity. It is not possible for a creative genius to just listen to anybody else because he only knows what he enjoys doing, what works well for him, etc.
You should only pursue creativity as a hobby – We all are creative and we have our choices in life. If we choose to make it a full time living it is up to us. Imagine the plight of product designers for giant corporate who come up with great creative ideas for our daily use if they use their creativity only as a hobby.
Well. These are only myths and these do not stop creative individuals from being creative. After all creativity is one of nature’s endowments on human beings. Who has the capacity to interfere with nature? (496)