Quick Thinking 2...

If you want to unlock and apply your creativity, do the following
three things:

1) Be consistent

Creative inspiration is wonderful; it is also rare. Once in a while
I will be suddenly struck with an idea for a story, article, or
speech. When this happens, it's great. But if I just waited for
these moments, I would accomplish very little.

The problem is that most people wait around for inspiration. They
are paralyzed with non-action because nothing comes to them.

This is where consistency becomes important. People who write for a
living will tell you that the most important thing is to "get the
butt in the seat." That is, everyday, inspired or not, they need to
sit at their desk and write. This type of consistency generates a
volume of creative work, regardless of inspiration.

If you are trying to use your creativity for any purpose, then be
consistent! Put some work in everyday, even if you feel blocked up.
By being consistent, not only will you continue to generate ideas,
but you will also be cultivating your creativity so that
inspiration is more likely to hit.

This approach can also be applied to cultivating creativity. There
are drills and exercises that can unlock and develop your
creativity. However, these drills and exercises are useless if not
used. They are also ineffective if not done consistently over a
period of time. Just like a physical muscle that needs to be
gradually strengthened over time, so too does your creative muscle.

How do you keep going even when you feel blocked up? That's the
next point...

2) Be willing to be bad

When someone uses their creative skill to generate a new idea, the
only thing the outside world sees is that one brilliant idea. What
the world doesn't see is the dozens, or hundreds, or even thousands
of bad ideas that led to the one good one. As you develop your
creativity, be willing to be bad. Be willing to tap into your
resources and keep coming up with bad ideas. The willingness to do
that will unlock and increase your creative flow to a point where
the good ideas will come.

Julia Cameron has a great quote "You take care of the quantity, and
let God take care of the quality."

Use that as a reminder when you feel that your ideas aren't good
enough.

3) Be persistent

Consistency is coming back day after day. Persistence is sticking
to a task until it is done.

Because of the romanticized notion of creativity, people believe
that ideas should come immediately. If nothing comes in a day or
two, there is a great temptation to quit. We believe that we are
out of ideas.

This is where persistence becomes paramount. Be willing to stick to
it and keep creating when you feel you should quit. You must
realize that your creative mind is more powerful and more
resourceful than your conscious mind. Your limitations and desire
to quit are in your conscious mind.

The person who comes across as truly creative is the one who
persists in these times. Not because they have a great idea, but
because they trust that by persisting their creative mind will give
them something.

If you want to be a super creative person, be willing to keep at
it, even when you are sure you have exhausted all ideas.

It is hard work to be consistent. It is hard work to be willing to
be bad; to be willing to keep creating when you feel the quality is
not there. It is hard work to be persistent. And yet these three
things will help you unlock and apply your creativity immediately.

Stop thinking of creativity as a magic tool only a few special
people possess. With some hard work and discipline, anyone
(including you) can be immensely creative!