18 Things Highly Creative People Do Differently

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CarolynGregoire(/carolyngregoire/) Becomeafan(/users/becomeFan.php?of=hp_blogger_CarolynGregoire)[email protected](mailto:[email protected])

Posted:03/04/20148:48amEST Updated:03/26/20148:59amEDT

18ThingsHighlyCreativePeopleDoDifferently

Creativityworksinmysteriousandoftenparadoxicalways.Creativethinkingisastable,definingcharacteristicinsomepersonalities,butitmayalsochangebasedonsituationandcontext

(http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/aneasywaytoincreasec/).Inspirationandideasoftenariseseeminglyoutofnowhereandthenfailtoshowupwhenwemostneedthem,andcreativethinkingrequirescomplexcognitionyetiscompletelydistinctfromthethinkingprocess.

Neurosciencepaintsacomplicatedpictureofcreativity(http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautifulminds/2013/08/19/therealneuroscienceofcreativity/).Asscientistsnowunderstandit,creativityisfarmorecomplexthantherightleftbraindistinctionwouldhaveusthink(thetheorybeingthatleftbrain=rationalandanalytical,rightbrain=creativeandemotional).Infact,creativityisthoughttoinvolveanumberofcognitiveprocesses,neuralpathwaysandemotions,andwestilldon'thavethefullpictureofhowtheimaginativemindworks.

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Andpsychologicallyspeaking,creativepersonalitytypesaredifficulttopindown,largelybecausethey'recomplex,paradoxicalandtendtoavoidhabitorroutine.Andit'snotjustastereotypeofthe"torturedartist"artistsreallymaybemorecomplicatedpeople.Researchhassuggested(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scottbarrykaufman/creativepeople_b_829563.html)thatcreativityinvolvesthecomingtogetherofamultitudeoftraits,behaviorsandsocialinfluencesinasingleperson.

"It'sactuallyhardforcreativepeopletoknowthemselvesbecausethecreativeselfismorecomplexthanthenoncreativeself,"ScottBarryKaufman,apsychologistatNewYorkUniversitywhohasspentyearsresearchingcreativity,toldTheHuffingtonPost."Thethingsthatstandoutthemostaretheparadoxesofthecreativeself...Imaginativepeoplehavemessierminds."

Whilethere'sno"typical"creativetype,therearesometelltalecharacteristicsandbehaviorsofhighlycreativepeople.Hereare18thingstheydodifferently.

Theydaydream.

Creativetypesknow,despitewhattheirthirdgradeteachersmayhavesaid,thatdaydreamingisanythingbutawasteoftime.

AccordingtoKaufmanandpsychologistRebeccaL.McMillan(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/03/mindwandering_n_4024852.html),whocoauthoredapapertitled"OdeToPositiveConstructiveDaydreaming,"mindwanderingcanaidintheprocessof"creativeincubation."Andofcourse,manyofusknowfromexperiencethatourbestideascomeseeminglyoutofthebluewhenourmindsareelsewhere.

Althoughdaydreamingmayseemmindless,a2012study(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/03/mindwandering_n_4024852.html)suggesteditcouldactuallyinvolveahighlyengagedbrainstatedaydreamingcanleadtosuddenconnectionsandinsightsbecauseit'srelatedtoourabilitytorecallinformationinthefaceofdistractions.Neuroscientistshavealsofound(http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beautifulminds/201102/whydaydreamersaremorecreative)thatdaydreaminginvolvesthesamebrainprocessesassociatedwithimaginationandcreativity.

Theyobserveeverything.

Theworldisacreativeperson'soystertheyseepossibilitieseverywhereandareconstantlytakingininformationthatbecomesfodderforcreativeexpression.AsHenryJamesiswidelyquoted(http://public.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/artfiction.html),awriterissomeoneonwhom"nothingislost."

ThewriterJoanDidionkeptanotebookwithheratalltimes,andsaidthatshewrotedownobservationsaboutpeopleandeventsas,ultimately,awaytobetterunderstandthecomplexitiesandcontradictionsofherownmind:

"Howeverdutifullywerecordwhatweseearoundus,thecommondenominatorofallweseeisalways,transparently,shamelessly,theimplacable'I,'"DidionwroteinheressayOnKeepingANotebook(http://www.hngmn.com/storage/didion%20%20on%20keeping%20a%20notebook.pdf)."Wearetalkingaboutsomethingprivate,aboutbitsofthemindsstringtooshorttouse,anindiscriminateanderraticassemblagewithmeaningonlyforitsmarker."

8.TheTruthAboutThePeopleYouCan'tForgive

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Theyworkthehoursthatworkforthem.

Manygreatartistshavesaid(http://www.amazon.com/DailyRitualsHowArtistsWork/dp/0307273601)thattheydotheirbestworkeitherveryearlyinthemorningorlateatnight.VladimirNabokovstartedwritingimmediatelyafterhewokeup(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/17/thefirstthingthesesuc_n_3588482.html)at6or7a.m.,andFrankLloydWrightmadeapracticeofwakingupat3or4a.m.andworkingforseveralhoursbeforeheadingbacktobed.Nomatterwhenitis,individualswithhighcreativeoutputwilloftenfigureoutwhattimeitisthattheirmindsstartfiringup,andstructuretheirdaysaccordingly.

Theytaketimeforsolitude.

"Inordertobeopentocreativity,onemusthavethecapacityforconstructiveuseofsolitude.Onemustovercomethefearofbeingalone,"wrotetheAmericanexistentialpsychologistRolloMay(http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Courage_to_Create.html?id=Q1UsFy7cNKkC).

Artistsandcreativesareoftenstereotypedasbeingloners,andwhilethismaynotactuallybethecase,solitudecanbethekeytoproducingtheirbestwork.ForKaufman,thislinksbacktodaydreamingweneedtogiveourselvesthetimealonetosimplyallowourmindstowander.

"Youneedtogetintouchwiththatinnermonologuetobeabletoexpressit,"hesays."It'shardtofindthatinnercreativevoiceifyou're...notgettingintouchwithyourselfandreflectingonyourself."

Theyturnlife'sobstaclesaround.

Manyofthemosticonicstoriesandsongsofalltimehavebeeninspiredbygutwrenchingpainandheartbreakandthesilverliningofthesechallengesisthattheymayhavebeenthecatalysttocreategreatart.Anemergingfieldofpsychologycalledposttraumaticgrowthissuggestingthatmanypeopleareabletousetheirhardshipsandearlylifetraumaforsubstantialcreativegrowth.Specifically,researchershavefound(http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautifulminds/2013/05/06/turningadversityintocreativegrowth/)thattraumacanhelppeopletogrowintheareasofinterpersonalrelationships,spirituality,appreciationoflife,personalstrength,andmostimportantlyforcreativityseeingnewpossibilitiesinlife.

"Alotofpeopleareabletousethatasthefueltheyneedtocomeupwithadifferentperspectiveonreality,"saysKaufman."What'shappenedisthattheirviewoftheworldasasafeplace,orasacertaintypeofplace,hasbeenshatteredatsomepointintheirlife,causingthemtogoontheperipheryandseethingsinanew,freshlight,andthat'sveryconducivetocreativity."

Theyseekoutnewexperiences.

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Creativepeoplelovetoexposethemselvestonewexperiences,sensationsandstatesofmindandthisopennessisasignificantpredictorofcreativeoutput.

"Opennesstoexperienceisconsistentlythestrongestpredictorofcreativeachievement,"saysKaufman."Thisconsistsoflotsofdifferentfacets,butthey'reallrelatedtoeachother:Intellectualcuriosity,thrillseeking,opennesstoyouremotions,opennesstofantasy.Thethingthatbringsthemalltogetherisadriveforcognitiveandbehavioralexplorationoftheworld,yourinnerworldandyourouterworld."

They"failup."

Resilienceispracticallyaprerequisiteforcreativesuccess,saysKaufman.Doingcreativeworkisoftendescribed(http://vimeo.com/24715531)asaprocessoffailingrepeatedlyuntilyoufindsomethingthatsticks,andcreativesatleastthesuccessfuloneslearnnottotakefailuresopersonally.

"Creativesfailandthereallygoodonesfailoften,"ForbescontributorStevenKotlerwrote(http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenkotler/2012/10/11/einsteinatthebeachthehiddenrelationshipbetweenriskandcreativity/)inapieceonEinstein'screativegenius.

Theyaskthebigquestions.

Creativepeopleareinsatiablycurioustheygenerallyopttolivetheexaminedlife,andevenastheygetolder,maintainasenseofcuriosityaboutlife(http://www.fastcompany.com/3024779/dialed/howcuriositycultivatescreativity).Whetherthroughintenseconversationorsolitarymindwandering,creativeslookattheworldaroundthemandwanttoknowwhy,andhow,itisthewayitis.

Theypeoplewatch.

Observantbynatureandcuriousaboutthelivesofothers,creativetypesoftenlovetopeoplewatchandtheymaygeneratesomeoftheirbestideasfromit.

"[Marcel]Proustspentalmosthiswholelifepeoplewatching,andhewrotedownhisobservations,anditeventuallycameoutinhisbooks,"saysKaufman."Foralotofwriters,peoplewatchingisveryimportant...They'rekeenobserversofhumannature."

Theytakerisks.

Partofdoingcreativeworkistakingrisks,andmanycreativetypesthriveoffoftakingrisksinvariousaspectsoftheirlives.

"Thereisadeepandmeaningfulconnectionbetweenrisktakingandcreativityandit'sonethat'softenoverlooked,"contributorStevenKotlerwroteinForbes(http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenkotler/2012/10/11/einsteinatthebeachthehiddenrelationshipbetweenriskandcreativity/)."Creativityistheactofmakingsomethingfromnothing.Itrequiresmakingpublicthosebetsfirstplacedbyimagination.Thisisnotajobforthetimid.Timewasted,reputationtarnished,moneynotwellspenttheseareallbyproductsofcreativitygoneawry."

Theyviewalloflifeasanopportunityforselfexpression.

Nietzschebelievedthatone'slifeandtheworldshouldbeviewedasaworkofart(http://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/19/books/theworldasaworkofart.html).Creativetypesmaybemorelikelytoseetheworldthisway,andtoconstantlyseekopportunitiesforselfexpressionineverydaylife.

"Creativeexpressionisselfexpression,"saysKaufman."Creativityisnothingmorethananindividualexpressionofyourneeds,desiresanduniqueness."

Theyfollowtheirtruepassions.

Creativepeopletendtobeintrinsicallymotivated(http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=d1KTEQpQ6vsC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=psychology+study+creativity&ots=Fr4_0fyjyZ&sig=XfXr2RcSmcYfckt2RyQlaIFi0xg#v=onepage&q=intrinsic%20motivation&f=false)meaningthatthey'remotivatedtoactfromsomeinternaldesire,ratherthanadesireforexternalrewardorrecognition.Psychologistshaveshownthatcreativepeopleareenergizedbychallengingactivities,asignofintrinsicmotivation,andtheresearchsuggests(http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=d1KTEQpQ6vsC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=psychology+study+creativity&ots=Fr4_0fyjyZ&sig=XfXr2RcSmcYfckt2RyQlaIFi0xg#v=onepage&q=intrinsic%20motivation&f=false)thatsimplythinkingofintrinsicreasonstoperformanactivitymaybeenoughtoboostcreativity.

"Eminentcreatorschooseandbecomepassionatelyinvolvedinchallenging,riskyproblemsthatprovideapowerfulsenseofpowerfromtheabilitytousetheirtalents,"writeM.A.CollinsandT.M.AmabileinTheHandbookofCreativity(http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=d1KTEQpQ6vsC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=psychology+study+creativity&ots=Fr4_0fyjyZ&sig=XfXr2RcSmcYfckt2RyQlaIFi0xg#v=onepage&q=intrinsic%20motivation&f=false)

Theygetoutoftheirownheads.

Kaufmanarguesthatanotherpurposeofdaydreamingistohelpustogetoutofourownlimitedperspectiveandexploreotherwaysofthinking,whichcanbeanimportantassettocreativework.

"Daydreaminghasevolvedtoallowustoletgoofthepresent,"saysKaufman."ThesamebrainnetworkassociatedwithdaydreamingisthebrainnetworkassociatedwiththeoryofmindIlikecallingitthe'imaginationbrainnetwork'itallowsyoutoimagineyourfutureself,butitalsoallowsyoutoimaginewhatsomeoneelseisthinking."

Researchhasalsosuggestedthatinducing"psychologicaldistance"(http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/aneasywaytoincreasec/)thatis,takinganotherperson'sperspectiveorthinkingaboutaquestionasifitwasunrealorunfamiliarcanboostcreativethinking.

Theylosetrackofthetime.

Creativetypesmayfindthatwhenthey'rewriting,dancing,paintingorexpressingthemselvesinanotherway,theyget"inthezone,"orwhat'sknownasaflowstate(http://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow.html),whichcanhelpthemtocreateattheirhighestlevel.Flowisamentalstatewhenanindividualtranscendsconsciousthoughttoreachaheightenedstateofeffortlessconcentrationandcalmness.Whensomeoneisinthisstate,they'repracticallyimmunetoanyinternalorexternalpressuresanddistractionsthatcouldhindertheirperformance.

Yougetintotheflowstatewhenyou'reperforminganactivityyouenjoythatyou'regoodat,butthatalsochallengesyouasanygoodcreativeprojectdoes.

"[Creativepeople]havefoundthethingtheylove,butthey'vealsobuiltuptheskillinittobeabletogetintotheflowstate,"saysKaufman."Theflowstaterequiresamatchbetweenyourskillsetandthetaskoractivityyou'reengagingin."

Theysurroundthemselveswithbeauty.

Creativestendtohaveexcellenttaste,andasaresult,theyenjoybeingsurroundedbybeauty.

AstudyrecentlypublishedinthejournalPsychologyofAesthetics,Creativity,andtheArts(http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/201344713001/)showedthatmusiciansincludingorchestramusicians,musicteachers,andsoloistsexhibitahighsensitivityandresponsivenesstoartisticbeauty.

Theyconnectthedots.

Ifthere'sonethingthatdistinguisheshighlycreativepeoplefromothers,it'stheabilitytoseepossibilitieswhereothersdon'tor,inotherwords,vision.Manygreatartistsandwritershavesaidthatcreativityissimplytheabilitytoconnectthedotsthatothersmightneverthinktoconnect.

InthewordsofSteveJobs(http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.02/jobs_pr.html):

"Creativityisjustconnectingthings.Whenyouaskcreativepeoplehowtheydidsomething,theyfeelalittleguiltybecausetheydidn'treallydoit,theyjustsawsomething.Itseemedobvioustothemafterawhile.That'sbecausetheywereabletoconnectexperiencesthey'vehadandsynthesizenewthings."

Theyconstantlyshakethingsup.

Diversityofexperience,morethananythingelse,iscriticaltocreativity,saysKaufman.Creativesliketoshakethingsup,experiencenewthings,andavoidanythingthatmakeslifemoremonotonousormundane.

"Creativepeoplehavemorediversityofexperiences,andhabitisthekillerofdiversityofexperience,"saysKaufman.

Theymaketimeformindfulness.

Creativetypesunderstandthevalueofaclearandfocusedmindbecausetheirworkdependsonit.Manyartists,entrepreneurs,writersandothercreativeworkers,suchasDavidLynch(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/28/5tipsfromdavidlynch_n_4849537.html?utm_hp_ref=tw),haveturnedtomeditationasatoolfortappingintotheirmostcreativestateofmind.

Andsciencebacksuptheideathatmindfulnessreallycanboostyourbrainpowerinanumberofways.A2012Dutchstudy(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120419102317.htm)suggestedthatcertainmeditationtechniquescanpromotecreativethinking.Andmindfulnesspracticeshavebeenlinkedwithimprovedmemoryandfocus(http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/05/studymeditationimprovesmemoryattention/275564/),betteremotionalwellbeing(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/11/mindfulnessemotionalstabilitysleep_n_2836954.html),reducedstress(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/31/mindfulnessmeditationcortisolstresslevels_n_2965197.html)andanxiety(http://www.livescience.com/42361mindfulnessmeditationanxietydepression.html),andimprovedmentalclarity(http://newsdesk.gmu.edu/2013/04/newstudyshowsmeditatingbeforelectureleadstobettergrades/)allofwhichcanleadtobettercreativethought.

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AlexAlbillarCollegeofDuPageit'sanarticleaboutme!!ReplyLike FollowPostJuly28,2014at8:52pm

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Also,abitofinspiration~https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajMpfPYlHi4ReplyLikeSeptember8,2014at12:42pm

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BenjAndrewsCityCollegeBrightonandHoveahno,idon'tthinkicouldbeanymoredifferentfromthisperson!!!ReplyLikeFollowPostDecember23,2014at6:09pm

AnthonyDavisTruthbetold,creativityisinnateineveryone.Andallthe'18thingscreativepeopledodifferently'arejusttheeffectsorconsequenceswepickup.Theseareneverthe'causes'ofcreativity.Iftheywere,ifyoudidallthe18thingsyou'dbecreative.ButIcanguaranteedoingthe18thingsandyou'reunlikelybetoconsistentlycreative.AsIsaid,creativityisalreadybuiltintothesystem,nothingneedingdoingtoachieveit.ReplyLike FollowPostSeptember3,2014at6:37am2

KorinaDaggettPrivate(rank)atIdahoArmyNationalGuardThere'sadifferencebetweenhavingpersonalitytraitsdeemedstereotypicallycreativeandactuallybeingcreativejustasthereisdifferencebetweenbeingintelligentandwelleducated.Plussurroundingyourselfwithbeautyisnotonlythemostuntruestatementitscompletelyrelative.Sincethispostisstrictlymainmedia,having"goodtaste"meansyourhouselookslikeitcameoutofamagazine.WhenmostifnotallthecreativepeopleIknowhavemixmatchedsurroundings,nothingmostpeoplewouldcallhaving"goodtaste."Maybebright,flamboyant,andpersonaltothemself.ReplyLike FollowPostOctober1,2014at9:29pm1

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BarbaraBootheLoyd TopCommenterArtistandWriteratSelfEmployedIamhappyaboutnewresearch.MysisterbecameabookkeeperandmybrotheranengineerIwonderedforyearsiftherewassomethingwrongwithmebecauseweneversaweyetoeye.ReplyLike FollowPostJuly20,2014at1:34pm

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I'm18for18.Daydreamingiscentraltoallofit.IwrotemyentirefirstnovelinmyheadbeforeIeversatdowntotype.4MAR20148:20AM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/GT6/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308242118.HTML)

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JudithL. (PenGoddess)(/social/PenGoddess?action=comments) 4POLITICALPUNDIT 3,115Fans WearetheUniverse

Me,too,,,

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JaneB. (Jane_T_Brodbar)(/social/Jane_T_Brodbar?action=comments)47

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AsanartistIhavetosayfullyspoton.IwishalloftheteachersthatsaidthatIwas"tooeasilydistracted",allofthepeoplewhocalledme"toosensitive",myhyperorganizedfriendswhocan'tunderstandwhyeverythinginmyhouseisn'tcolorcoordinatedlikeinaRaymour&Flannigancatalog("Well!YouAREanartist!"~answer:"Exactly,it'scalled'eclectic'."couldreadthisarticle.4MAR20149:06AM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/JANE_T_BRODBAR/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308245028.HTML)

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SherylBanak (sfbanak)(/social/sfbanak?action=comments) 8SUPERUSER 37Fans

Iwouldlikethat,too!SOmepeoplewillnevergetthattheywanteveryonetofitintothesameboxlikeclones.Doesn'tmattertomeiftheygetitIDO!5MAR20146:29AM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/SFBANAK/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308299835.HTML)

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(/social/Ben_Wilson?action=comments)BenWilson (Ben_Wilson)(/social/Ben_Wilson?action=comments) 31SUPERUSER 351Fans Intentcounts,notyourinterpretation

Soundslikeme.....Saideveryone.4MAR20143:38PM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/BEN_WILSON/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308270988.HTML)

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KristenS. (invisbl)(/social/invisbl?action=comments) 9SUPERUSER 413Fans sameasiteverwas

Absolutely.I'dwagereverysinglepersonwhoreadthisarticlefoundthemselvessomewhereinit.Whodoesn'twanttobeaspecialsnowflake?6MAR201412:44PM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/INVISBL/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308396294.HTML)

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DouglasEby (DouglasEby)(/social/DouglasEby?action=comments) 25SUPERUSER 388Fans TalentDevelopmentResource

Thanksforthisinformativearticle.CreativityresearcherMihalyCsikszentmihalyi(pronouncedmehighchicksentmehigh)[referencedbyScottBarryKaufman,Ph.D.]alsonotescreativepeopleareespeciallycomplex.Personalitycharacteristicshedescribesinclude:*"Humbleandproud,bothpainfullyselfdoubtingandwildlyselfconfident."*"Maydefygenderstereotypes,andarelikelytohavenotonlythestrengthsoftheirowngenderbutthoseoftheotheraswell.Akindofpsychicandrogyny."[FrommyarticleMihalyCsikszentmihalyionthecreativepersonalityhttp://talentdevelop.com/4439/(http://talentdevelop.com/4439/)]Perhapsawaytoencouragecreativeexplorationinourselvesandchildrenistoallowmore"inconsistencies"inpersonalityandbehavior.4MAR20146:36PM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/DOUGLASEBY/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308279977.HTML)

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DavidKanegis(/social/hp_blogger_David+Kanegis?action=comments) 1HUFFPOSTBLOGGER 175Fans

AveryinterestingtakeDouglas.5MAR201412:13AM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/HP_BLOGGER_DAVIDKANEGIS/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308289632.HTML)

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GaryRoth (garoth)(/social/garoth?action=comments) 19SUPERUSER 176Fans

Alongwiththis,Iwouldadd,thattheyexposethemselvestootherideas.Itmentions"gettingoutofyourownhead."Tobeabletoseetheworldthroughdifferenteyes,toexperienceitdifferently,doesn'tcomefromnowhere.Exposuretoother'sideas,otherpossibleworldsandworldviews,givesthematerialoneneedstoputtogethersomethingdifferent.Astheoldsayinggoes,"OnlyGodcreatesoutofnothing.Weallcreateoutofsomething."4MAR20148:43AM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/GAROTH/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308243502.HTML)

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SharonS. (Ssmith59)(/social/Ssmith59?action=comments) 12Fans

Sospoton.Youhavetobeabletofigureoutwhatmotivatessomeoneverydifferentfromyouinordertocreatebelievablecharacters.Youcanonlydothisbygettingintosomeone'shead.

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Rachel (RachelMedhurst)(/social/RachelMedhurst?action=comments) 160Fans

Haha...itslikereadingaprofileaboutme!Hateitwhenpeoplegetmesospoton:)4MAR20148:28AM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/RACHELMEDHURST/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308242613.HTML)

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PattyFriedFol (Siebenstein)(/social/Siebenstein?action=comments) 2SUPERUSER 961Fans

Thoughtthesamething,lol.4MAR201410:56AM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/SIEBENSTEIN/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308252710.HTML)

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CatePane(/social/hp_blogger_Cate+Pane?action=comments) 9HUFFPOSTBLOGGER 51Fans

Excellentarticle!Ithinkthatmanyofthesecharacteristicsshouldbeencouragedinchildrentonurturecreativity.4MAR201410:40AM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/HP_BLOGGER_CATEPANE/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308251536.HTML)

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DavidKanegis(/social/hp_blogger_David+Kanegis?action=comments) 7HUFFPOSTBLOGGER 175Fans

SotrueCate!Iusedtoteachelementaryschool...seemslikeagesago...itwas:)andIencouragedcreativityinallforms.IwasluckyenoughtotakeacoursebyanincrediblewomannamedSammyIves.Itwasagradcourse(Iwasanundergrad)calledCreativityintheClassroom.Istillremember,weweresupposedtoallcreateapicture.Minethatlookedtomelikesanitarylandfillthathadn'tbeentreated...Ithrewinthegarbage.15minuteslaterIhearthisbellowingvoice..."whocreatedthiswonderfulpicture?"Sammyhadtakenitoutofthegarbageandwasholdingitup.Itwassoselfaffirming.Weneedtostimulateandhonorcreativity.Unfortunately,intoday'sschoolenvironmentwiththeemphasisontestingwearestultifyingcreativityinthenameofbettertestscores.5MAR201412:03AM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/HP_BLOGGER_DAVIDKANEGIS/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308289453.HTML)

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DenaTaylor (DenaTaylorWriter)(/social/DenaTaylorWriter?action=comments)

122Fans

Interesting!Especiallytheresearchbehindit.Asafreelancecreativewhohasworkedmyownhoursfornearly13years,thislistdescribesmostofmycolleaguesandmyself.Forme,"flowstate,"whichIneedtoearnincome,isoftenchallengedbytheinclinationtopeoplewatch,daydreamandshakethingsup.VeryhardtobeprolificwhentheguynexttomeatthecoffeeshopisadeadringerforPutin(yesterdayandIcouldn'tstopstaring!)ortheneighborbelowishavingacoughingfit.ConstantlytellingmyselftofocuswhenI'dratherbedoingotherthings,likepostingthePutinlookalikeonFBorreadingarticlesaboutcreativepeopleonHuffPo:)4MAR20148:30AM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/DENATAYLORWRITER/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308242737.HTML)

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CarolR. (OldTart)(/social/OldTart?action=comments) 11577Fans Letitbeginwithme...

Amen!Justamen!4MAR20147:02AM(HTTP://WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM/SOCIAL/OLDTART/CREATIVITYHABITS_N_4859769_308237219.HTML)

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