I believe that we are all born as artists and creatives, but we are almost taught to forget this as we grow older. For example, try to remember when you were young, how easy it was to imagine scenarios, create names, give new functions to old toys or objects, create new languages... You had a solution for everything, didn’t you?
If you can’t remember it that well, ask your parents or someone who watched you grow up. If that’s not possible, observe a child playing. Notice how they experiment fearlessly, without judgments.
Our upbringing, in general, directs us toward a monotonous and predictable life, where we follow the pattern: School - College - Job - Retirement. Within this cycle, we have fewer and fewer spaces to make mistakes. And, with the fear of making mistakes, we stifle our creativity, close our minds to new experiences, and reduce the possibilities of living outside of this pattern.
As a result, we end up suffocating that inner artist who has always been inside us, that creative, free, unstoppable being we once were. I’ve noticed more and more people unhappy with their jobs, desperately looking for a way out to change the direction of their lives, which at some point was swallowed by this routine where fear suffocates creativity and destroys any chance of seeing new opportunities.
But what if I told you that your inner artist remains within you, and, even better, could be your key to improving your quality of life?!
The thing is, creativity is directly tied to all kinds of artistic expression, but it goes beyond that. A creative person tends to communicate better, be more empathetic, more human, and also a great problem-solver. And these skills will help you in your daily life, both personally and professionally.
And you know what the best part is? There are countless ways to stimulate our brains and become more creative, and they are simply wonderful. From traveling, reading a book, trying a new hobby, to simply socializing with people who have life experiences different from your own.
The more we expose ourselves to different cultures, ideas, perspectives, and experiences, the more we expand our minds. The important thing is to step out of your comfort zone. If you struggle to try something new, start slow:
Watch a documentary or even a YouTube video about travelers sharing their experiences around the world. They are personal, but usually, they are real experiences that will stimulate you in some way. That said, take a risk and also eat at a restaurant with a cuisine you’ve never tried before.
Reading will also introduce you to new ways of seeing the world, different stories, and often challenge you to rethink the obvious. Try writing down some ideas, but forget about the computer or phone for a bit. Write by hand, like the Incas and Mayans did (lol). Imagine a situation that makes you happy and describe it on paper. This action will not only stimulate your creativity but also generate some excitement and happiness.
Draw - Draw, even if you don’t know how. The idea here isn’t for you to be an artist, but to practice the act of observation. Our routine makes everything automatic, and often we don’t notice the things around us. A good idea might come from something simple that you’ve never noticed before. One exercise I love doing is blind drawing, which, contrary to what the name suggests, doesn’t mean you’re drawing with your eyes closed. Here’s how it works: you choose a scene or object, observe it carefully, and begin to draw without looking at the paper. This forces your attention to fully concentrate on what’s in front of you. It’s a deep immersion while you let your hand move with your pencil/pen across the paper. Don’t worry about the result; the goal here is to practice your observation.
Talk to different people - It’s important to talk with people who think differently from us. By hearing opinions that are different from ours without judgment, we broaden our understanding of the world and of human beings, practicing empathy. It’s not about convincing or being convinced, but about exploring new ways of seeing reality. If you don’t feel comfortable socializing, start with the people around you. Try to propose a conversation from a different point of view than you would normally have. This exercise helps question certainties and see the same topic from different angles.
Practice idleness - Having spaces where we do nothing is essential. But be careful, when I say nothing, scrolling on your phone doesn’t count. Contrary to what many people think, this act bombards you with superficial stimuli, causing stress and occupying space in our minds. When we allow ourselves a true moment of rest, our brain is relaxed, free from the stress that blocks our mental flow, giving space for new ideas to flow freely.
Perhaps after all this information, you’re thinking: “Okay, but if I apply all of this to my routine, I won’t have time for anything else.” And that’s true. So don’t panic or try to do everything at once. Overloading yourself with a thousand activities can have the opposite effect, blocking your creativity rather than stimulating it, and you’ll end up frustrated. Still, the important thing is to start, gradually and naturally. Choose one of these exercises and incorporate it into your daily life. Little by little, you will reap the rewards of cultivating a more open, curious, and creative mind.
And remember always: Being creative is an exercise, not a destination.
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