How to think like a creative person (and why you already qualify)
Thinking creatively is gaining even more popularity as a counter reaction to AI generated output. That’s a good thing, and if you’re like “I wonder if I think like a creative person?” you’ll quickly get the answer in this post. Read on…
This blog post is free from AI, and written by me. I share my opinions, experience, typos, and Danish/English grammar with you gladly and totally free of charge :)
A few years ago I wrote a blog post about practicing a creative mindset, and I find the conversation around creativity, and thinking creatively, intensifying with AI having blown up since that post was written.
For a quick recap, you’ve probably heard about having a fixed or a growth mindset. In the post I write about a creative mindset being an open mindset that allows you to think, feel, and express yourself creatively. And then I give examples of how you can practice, because that’s what creativity is: a practice.
So, do you think like a creative person? Let’s check…
How to know if you think like a creative person (and why you already qualify)
Here’s a quick checklist to see if you think like a creative person
You find it hard to get started with a creative project.
You’re not ready yet, there needs to be more research ;)
You’re feeling stuck, if you did indeed manage to get started.
You have self-doubt.
You think other people are more creative than you.
What you expect of yourself to produce is keeping you frozen.
You’re overthinking everything.
There’s a lot going on in your mind, and you feel overwhelmed by it all, hey presto… Insta/TikTok.
If you can recognize any of the above scenarios, congratulations, you’re thinking like a creative person.
If you’re now thinking “yeah ok, but this is like most people”, you’re right, it is.
You are human, you have a busy mind, you’re already a qualified creative thinker.
I’m not being flippant about this, actually the opposite.
Many coaching clients don’t believe they’re creative, they just have a project they want done.
My job as a kaizen-muse creativity coach is to help you believe you have a creative side, that you can think and do creative things, and that it’s safe, and totally worth gently exploring it with an open, curious mind.
Let’s go a little deeper…
Can you turn up for your creative thinking?
Yes, absolutely, you can.
Creativity needs nurturing. Thinking creatively isn’t often encouraged. As you know, it’s not creative thinking that’s welcome in most situations, but instead thinking in line, being “on the same page”. We mirror the company we’re in.
Also, we live in habits and system 1 most of the time, some say 95%, so to break out of that takes some practice.
That’s ok, nothing wrong with that, but thinking differently, seeing things from a different angle, and making new, or different connections, needs to be received well, welcomed even, by the people your with. If it’s not, and it often isn’t, then we don’t get to practice creative thinking, in public, anyway. We shy away, try and fit in.
Good old Matisse wasn’t wrong when he said creativity takes courage.
Different and new often brings the “who-do-you-think-you-are?” fear up in people, and the Whack-a-mole game is triggered.
What I recommend, if you don’t feel safe bringing new or different ideas to others, is to make your own creative haven. Start with a safe place for you to write your thoughts, feelings, and ideas down. Whatever you’re into, do it private until you feel safe and brave enough to bring it to others.
If you’re reading this, I know about you that you’re brave. I hope you’ll keep going.
When do you own your creative identity?
At what point does someone become “a creative person”? Like, what does it take to feel comfortable wearing “creative” as part of your identity?
This is some of the deeper work I do with coaching clients. I can tell you you’re creative, brilliant, but if your belief in who you are as a person is different, you’re not going to believe me. You’ll just think I’m being nice.
(which I am, but I will try sneaky ways to help you notice your own creative side :))
We’re going deep now, so hang on… :)
The first step of change is awareness, and for all my years of working with creative processes, I still sometimes forget that step when it come to myself.
I love the topic of identity, as I think a lot of our creative blocks are rooted in how we view ourselves.
Confession: I like taking photographs, editing photos, and visual storytelling, but I don’t identify as a photographer. That title is not one I feel comfortable taking on, even though I have taken photographs professionally, as in actually getting paid for it. But not full time, or even consistently, and that’s where my idea of what it would take to call myself a photographer apparently is. In my head.
I identify as someone who likes taking pictures, as an amateur. So, I understand the icky feeling of taking on an identity, I don’t feel worthy of, and I believe that journey to feeling worthy is individual to each of us.
However, I totally identify as a creative and creative thinker. That is my identity.
Just an every day thing like food shopping. I drive my husband crazy cause he walks the same way, up and down the aisles, in order, follow the list. I’m all over the shop, literally. I’m criss-crossing, usually to where there are least people. Lol. There’s very little linear about my life, and I am proud of that.
But when does that worthiness come? is it with experience, and if so, how much experience? Will it come? What it doesn’t?
This is some interesting self-reflection work.
It’s just words, isn’t it? There’s no title- or identity police coming to arrest me, if I call myself a photographer, without having taken x-amount of photos.
Creativity is a the human process,
Oh yes is it, and it gives us life! It calms nervous systems, it helps us navigate emotions, it builds character and identities. And that’s not even including the actual “thing” we make or do.
AI can do many great things with speed, efficiency, shortcuts, clarity, but all that sweet, messy, feely, hard emotional human stuff is what is so endlessly interesting about a creative process. Don’t skip it because it’s hard. Keep at it because it’s hard.
I haven’t written a blog post in ages, and it’s taking me days to write this one. It would have taken Chat GPT or Claude minutes with corrections, but I love the feeling of these words coming from me, and I love typing.
This slow process is helping my thinking. This post has taken a few turns and pivots, and writing it is a practice for me to stay on track, and remember how to write again.
It’s joy. It’s tiny moments of connection to myself.
Dear reader, you are a creative person. This minute. You’ve already qualified, you’ve won the creative person lottery.
What you focus on becomes stronger. In the spirit of paying attention:
How can you today notice what energizes you?
More creative coaching resources for you
There are more blog posts about creative processing.
3 tips for when creative chaos disrupts your creative process
A little one about lowering pressure when creating something
Does your creative project need a little help?
Whether you live in Greenland, Kenya, Cannes or Alaska, if you’re creatively stuck on a project, and what you’ve read in this blog post resonates with you, feel free to reach out via my contact form here.
