Podcast Episode #61
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[00:00:00] Welcome to the Extraordinary Life Podcast from the creator of the Extraordinary Life Tribe, Crystal Obrergon, the self-development podcast propelling you forward toward your goals, using science backed high performance habits. Reach the next level in your physical and mental health. See new heights in your relationships.
[00:00:18] Gain clarity on your purpose and live your extraordinary life. Welcome your host writer, speaker and coach, Crystal Obregon. Hi there. This is Crystal of Crystal Obregon Coaching with episode Number 61 of the Extraordinary Life Podcast. This week, I'd like to talk about creativity and I'd like to talk about the creativity that goes far beyond art music and what you might often think of as creative.
[00:00:51] I know I never thought of myself as a creative person until my husband corrected me by mentioning how I can [00:01:00] create meals out of whatever we have in the fridge or pantry when I need. Creativity goes beyond even cooking or gardening or crafting creative expression is all about how you share your unique identity with the world.
[00:01:16] It's about sensing and exhibiting the true you it's about voicing your ideas and leaving your authentic mark on the. I spend an entire session on creative expression in my coaching, because it's that important to living an extraordinary life. You don't live an extraordinary life by living someone else's idea of an extraordinary life.
[00:01:41] That's why comparison can be such a problem. It's also why our culture of consuming the results of other people's creativity. Instead of creating ourselves, actually stifles our creativity. It's also why you probably won't flourish in [00:02:00] a work environment. It's also why you probably won't flourish in a work environment that doesn't give you room for your own ideas or in relationships that don't allow you to be yourself.
[00:02:14] Creativity is a quality that you do have. I don't care who you are and your creative abilities can be closer to the surface. And manifestations of them might be easy to see, or it might take time and cultivation to bring it out. The important thing to remember is that everyone can be creative. You just have to take steps to extract it from within.
[00:02:40] So today I'm going to specifically talk about taking steps to be creative in solving problems or in using creativity to come up with new ideas, to move forward in some D some way, whether it's in your personal life or your work life. Because it's easy [00:03:00] enough to feel stuck in some part of your life, or even be impacted by the problems that people around you are trying to solve, whether it's your significant other, your kids, your parents, your coworkers, or even others in your community.
[00:03:16] I know that I've definitely been experiencing that with probably all of those categories lately. Creativity definitely helps in problem solving. So I'd like to share today a few steps to open up your creativity that you can try today. The first is to change your perspective. You have probably heard the expression, think outside the box, try looking at a situation from a different point of.
[00:03:49] Change your perspective, consider all the factors that are affected by your problem or your concern. Try breaking a problem down into several [00:04:00] elements and then shuffling them. Think what would happen if an idea was replaced, the aspect is important in enhancing creativity because it helps you remove possible fixations that may hinder creativity.
[00:04:16] And also, when you look at that different elements, be wary of anything you consider a fact. If you go back to my podcast on the model, you'll see that we often think that something is a fact when often it's just an opinion or a belief. This is a good way to remember it. The temperature outside is a fact, a circumstance being good or bad is not a.
[00:04:44] The second step is to mentally move from your current location. And what I mean by that is to imagine how someone else would react if subjected to the same situation, picture how [00:05:00] different solutions would come from taking those different actions. And you can also physically move to a different location.
[00:05:09] If you're actively trying to solve a problem, you could go to a different room. Or even better go for a walk, Charles Darwin Chaikovsky and Einstein all walked to boost their creativity. The third step is to let your imagination run wild, exercise your imagination by giving voice to exaggerations or extremes of possible solutions, whether it's magnifying them or minimizing them.
[00:05:39] Thinking of the possible differences can produce ideas. So don't rule anything out. The fourth is to find your comfort spot. Your environment could be just right. You should have somewhere that's available to you, that you can focus without being disturbed to give a [00:06:00] problem, your full attention. I mean, this could even be in your closet.
[00:06:03] If that's all you have, this should also extend to the people you're with. You tend to do better at something when you're with like-minded people. In other words, try hanging out or surrounding yourself with other creative people to help enhance your creative abilities. The fifth is time, and this is a big one because you really can't rush creativity.
[00:06:29] Puring does not help with the outflow of ideas. When you try to force things, when you try to force things, your mind tends to go into a state of disarray studies show that results produced in this state are generally lacking. So I think it's probably one of the reasons that hopefully as you get older, you tend to give yourself more space and time to accomplish something because.
[00:06:58] Whether it's something [00:07:00] like writing or an assignment when you're a kid or a project, when you're an adult, it really helps to have as much time as possible to accomplish it. If you are low on time, though, keep a list of activities like this, one close to you so that you can go over each activity and exercise each one.
[00:07:23] But if you do have. And use it and just think that's where the expression sleep on. It comes in. And then last bit, not least is to get help. This is where the magic of a group mastermind or a coaching program comes in. Just trying to communicate your ideas to others can create clarification without even getting their input, but sometimes a different view of a problem or a situation can.
[00:07:51] Better yet many different views. Don't be too shy to ask, having people around you that you can trust that, you know, [00:08:00] want the greater good for you is really important. It's like having a team. That diversity of opinions can help with creativity. You can even organize a brainstorming situation, which goes a little bit with the idea of exercising your imagination because the spontaneous generation of new ideas helps in the formulation of more ideas.
[00:08:24] The products of brainstorming can be the raw material in the construction of new ideas, but just remember to follow these four rules for brainstorming, to be successful most important, no criticism, because it will hinder the free flow of ideas combining and modifying ideas is encouraged. Quantity is preferred over quality because you never know which one is the.
[00:08:52] And weird or strange ideas are encouraged. These are just a few ideas and steps you can use to [00:09:00] get your creative juices flowing. They can be adopted to suit your personal style, but give them a try. All of them. A try before you cross any of them off is not working for you. Be open and remove those boundaries from your mind and you will find your creativity and problem solving will increase.
[00:09:24] If you think you might want to be part of a group coaching slash mastermind experience with other women that are trying to live their brand of an extraordinary life. I do have introductory workshops happening in October. Just follow the link in the podcast notes to register or feel free to DM me for the link or to ask any questions you might have.
[00:09:50] That is it for today. Good luck with your creative problem solving. Have a great rest of your day and I'll see you in here next week. [00:10:00] Bye for now.
[00:10:03] Thank you for listening to the Extraordinary Life Podcast with writer and coach, Crystal Obregon. We'd love to connect with you outside of the podcast, too. To find more helpful insights, show notes and more about Crystal,
[00:10:13] go to Crystal Obregon.com O B R E G O N, where you'll also find info for the Design Your Decade Workshop. This workshop will help you to stop drifting and start creating. Until next time, be extraordinary.
