If you haven't gathered this by now, everyone (yes, even you!) is creative, but some people have more tools to cultivate creativity than others. Just like you can stretch and strengthen your physical muscles, you can also learn to stretch and expand the way you engage with your creativity.

Some of us were lucky enough that our creativity came naturally to us, but for others of us, this may not be the case. If you were ever assigned a project in college where you were tasked with "thinking outside the box" and that whole idea made you want to crawl back into bed, you're not alone. Creativity takes a lot of skill and even more effort to be fully engaged, but the best part is that it is absolutely possible for you to be more creative than you were yesterday, right here and right now.

Engaging Your Creativity

1. PLAY

Stretch your imagination. Become more comfortable with cognitive flexibility.

Play allows us to be in a space of non-judgement, and to let our imagination run free. Why do kids say the darnedest things? Because they don't know how to filter themselves yet. The more you play, the faster you will become at bouncing between ideas, building off of ideas, and stretching your zone of comfort.

2. CURIOSITY

Cultivate and encourage a learner's mindset.

It's not about getting it right; it's about the process and the experience. When we stay curious, we allow our minds to be sponges, to draw connections, and to believe in possibility. We hear a lot about following our passion when it comes to creativity, but passion can feel insurmountable. Curiosity begs discovery and invites exploration.

3.MINDFULNESS

Be present. Stay in the now.

When we're truly present, we're able to tap into all of our senses, create balance between our mind, body, emotion and spirit, and stay grounded in just what we can influence in the current moment. The smallest of things can spark our attention, bring us closer to a transcendent state of being, and uncover our unconscious desires. Even a small 5-minute meditation practice each morning can dramatically increase our awareness and help us to find our creative flow.

4. POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

Replace limiting beliefs and pave way for new perspectives.

Fear, shame and insecurity are narratives that we all hear when looking our creativity in the mirror. But just like you can choose blue socks instead of red socks, you can choose affirming thoughts over negative and destructive thoughts. When we recognize that our mind is separate from our being, we can influence our mind's course. You can start by simply writing a positive word or phrase on a note card and sticking in your mirror. Say this word or phrase to yourself. Imagine yourself as someone who is confident, self-assured, and open.

5. ACCEPTANCE

Resist control. Let yourself flow into alignment.

Creativity is like a muse, and its job isn't to force us to conclusions, but instead to be a vehicle by which we relate to the world. So many of us get caught up the outcome that we lose sight of the beautiful experience in the act of creating. If we step out of the driver's seat, we allow ourselves permission to be driven by our creativity, and to let the muse find us only when we're ready to accept it. Control chokes creativity. Acceptance allows it to flow.

6. VISIONING

Focus on defining the image of what you want to create.

Cliché as it may sound, creativity is both the walls of the house, and the space inside that the walls create. If you can't imagine what you're trying to create, how do you expect to align yourself toward it? Even when we think about a painting, it may be true that in some cases the artist isn't sure of exactly what the piece will be when it's being created, but he/she knows the vision of who he/she is as the creator. What is it that you are going to put out into the world, and what does it say about you?

7. INTUITION

Be still. Let your unconscious desires uncover themselves.

Intuition can be a tricky topic for some. I used to think it was something like a 6th sense, a metaphysical knowing that couldn't be achieve by the likes of us normal folk. But intuition is actually a knowing that is separate from time or fact, and it thrives when we are practicing mindfulness. Intuition is a doorway into all that we keep locked in our unconscious mind, and by tapping into our senses, heightening our awareness, and staying present, we can hear the hidden story that is begging to be told.

8. VULNERABILITY

Let your emotion fuel your creativity.

Fear is one of the biggest impediments to creativity, but creativity requires openness to thrive. Emotion is the fuel that keeps our creativity alive, and it allows others to connect to our story. When we own our story, all the pain and joy, the dark and light, we give ourselves permission to take risks, make mistakes and fail as many times and as big as we want.

What helps you be more creative?

Leave me a comment and tell me more about how you engage your creativity everyday!

8 Tips For Engaging Your Creativity