f we are all naturally creative, why do only a few people fully exercise their creativity? Primarily, we may underdeveloped or misplace personal habits for being creative, often from fear of “bucking the system” or our culture and social norms.

Creativity is an expression of who we are, not what we do or have. The true force of creativity is first to “be” (for example, seeing yourself as a doctor), then to “do” (going to medical school, conducting examinations), and to “have” (a diploma and a practice). In the natural scheme of creativity, “being” comes before “doing,” which comes before “having.” Unfortunately, many people try to “have” (the diploma) so they can “do” (conduct examinations) so they can “be” (a doctor). All along, these people try to create from a sense of not already being something, and so it’s difficult to form a positive mental picture of finally being, doing, and having what they want. Your imagination is a powerful tool in bringing about the skills and attitudes to support your creativity.

Your imagination is a powerful tool in bringing about the skill and attitudes to support your creativity. Take the time to imagine yourself as the creative person you want to be. This is an important step in your developing a creative edge—an internal edge as well as an advantage in your work. Start now by perceiving the characteristics of the SPIRITED person in yourself. Here is a model that sharpens our view of ourselves and how we can bring our own creative brilliance to work. People who fully express their creativity is based on key strengths in a few personal qualities: 

4. As this person, imagine being creative in the situation you described. How is the person—or how are you—being creative this time? Carry the fantasy as far as you can, even if you don’t come up with a solution you like.

5. Now, close your eyes again and recall how you felt, thought, and acted when being personally creative.  Now, while living that creative experience, imagine being creative in the actual situation. How

are you going about being creative this time? Be spirited.
6. Carry the fantasy through as far as you can.

7. Now that you’ve completed the exercise, try it once again. Again close

= Self-aware: Open to new ways of doing things. Willing

to feel emotions. Seeks insights about self and others. Knows own personal purpose and values.

= Purposeful: Commits whole-heartedly. Likes challenge and

self expression. Links goals to personal values. Promotes highest benefit for everyone concerned.

= Incisive: Look for input from others. Seeks opposing points

of view. Shows curiosity. Discerns objectively.

= Rewarding: shares credit. Seeks to see positive performance in  others.

Expresses appreciation easily. Celebrates completions.

= Inventive: generates many options. Switches easily

between logic and imagination. Plays spontaneously. Looks at problems in new ways.

= Transforming: Moves people to action. Energizes self and

others. Values and respects people. Acts with integrity to keep agreements.

= Evaluative: Makes decisions based on personal values.

Looks beyond “the numbers.” Judges at appropriate times. Anticipates consequences.

= Dauntless: takes initiative. Comfortable with ambiguity.

Asserts self courageously. Acts independently if necessary.    Start

with a vision of who you are and who you want to be, rather than what you want to do or have. Then build in the “doing” and “having” to fill out the vision. A focus on doing or having simply doesn’t pack the
power or follow-through. “Losing weight” or “giving up smoking” or “having     a      Mercedes    -    and

sometimes, a source of guilty feelings—unless such a goal is directly consistent with a desire from deep inside to “be” all you can be.
To help you see in yourself the characteristics of creative people, a personal exercise may prove quite valuable to you. Read through it first, and then please take the time to actually do the exercise. The insights that occur to you during the first reading are important, but there is more to find in the exercise to get its full benefit.

With that said, here’s the exercise:

1. Record two or three observations of others in their moments of creative expression. These should be moments you witness. The creative moments can involve ideas, tangible creations, spontaneous moments, or inner change. How was this person spirited?

2. Write down two or three moments in your life when you experienced the more inspired, creative moments and carried them through, fulfilling them. How were you spirited?

3. Pick a situation in your life in which you would like to be more creative or find a creative solution to a problem. Imagine yourself to be a highly creative person. Feel the motivation, think the thoughts, and act the actions of that person. Be spirited.

your eyes and follow the directions using your powers of imaginations and intuition. The more carefully we focus on who are and what we want to create, the more likely we are to act creatively. We become that which we dwell on, that to which we give our attention. If we dwell on the very things we fear or don’t want, such as negative habits, we attract them  to our lives like magnets. But by focusing our attention on ourselves in our most creative moments, or by “borrowing” the creative experiences of others, we can evoke and tap into our maximal creativity in any situation. The source of  your creativity is in you, not in your environment.  l
          Are you a creative person?