Throughout life, we have shared the idea that creatives, in general, were born with some kind of a gift. Designated as the right-brain thinkers, these individuals have the right brain more developed than ‘normal’ people.

is this a Myth?

What we can say is the left side is responsible for language and reason, while the right side handles imagination and creativity. It’s the side that visualizes ideas. The increase in technology and the digital revolution exploded into a series of games, applications, and didactic courses always carrying the promise of developing and stimulating creativity.

Much of what we know about the functional differences between the hemispheres comes from studies of the split brain that began in the sixties as a treatment for epilepsy. Psychologists Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga, could present stimuli to only one hemisphere or the other at a time and found that the two halves of the brain acted as independent organisms with different processing styles.

Creativity is a process of the whole brain. In humans considered normal, the hemispheres always work together, according to Ned Herrmann’s article for Scientific American. The creative process consists of six phases: interest, preparation, incubation, lighting, verification, and application. Each step of this process has its own brain waves. From a left brain/right brain perspective, the creative process runs like this: Interest (left and right), preparation (left), incubation (right), illumination (right), verification (left), and application (left and right). It is a balanced process–four “lefts” and four “rights.”

Researchers have found that enriched learning environments can contribute to the survival and integration of new brain cells. The idea is that the more you use your brain to do something, the stronger the connections between the cells involved become.

“Creativity is Just Connecting Things” Steve Jobs

A survey of Einstein’s brain suggested that his creativity may not have been caused by the size of his brain. It is known that his brain was larger in the areas connected between the hemispheres because he exercised these areas more than an average person.

So how do we stimulate creativity?

Try to implement a daily routine, dedicating a specific time on your day to think and create ideas for a specific theme, as an example, ‘heroes’. Do not be picky at this time, they’re just sketches. Create a bunch of ideas on the heroes theme. These will gradually start to connect and interact with each other. One idea leads to another. I use this system a lot when I’m designing for Threadless Challenges or a logo for a brand. I draw a lot of sketches in my notebook where ideas are connecting over time and taking shape. It’s a mix of ideas, a kind of Frankenstein.

I believe that creativity, when stimulated, helps us to find the best solutions to our problems. Techniques like changing the environment in which you work, whether with a decoration with your new T-shirts hanging on the wall (which I did in my studio), a new plant in the garden, studying a new language, or a subject completely out of your world can bring great benefits and help build new ideas. I love playing the guitar and have fun with my bulldog before I create. It’s an amazing inspiration for ideas!

Visit the Post  5 Ways to Train your Brain for some tips to help you learn things faster.

Pursuing new challenges is the most powerful tool in stimulating creativity. Look for new paths never explored. The creative solutions end up appearing naturally, as the process unfolds. It works like a snowball, which grows and gains speed. Your thinking speed increases and your creativity explodes into ideas.

There is no limit to creativity and human thought. I’m always trying to think positive by connecting with people and ideas. They are the ones that inspire and motivate me.

Do you have any tips or methods to stimulate your creativity? Show me in the comments!