2021-08-17 07:15:41
Creativity is often assumed to be a natural talent, as opposed to a skill one can develop through practice. And while there certainly could be some natural capacity for creativity, research over the past several decades has shown that the essential ingredients for creativity, especially for creative problem solving, can be learned.
One essential component of creativity is called divergent thinking. Divergent thinking is more than just thinking outside the box. It’s thinking without a box, and then imposing structure further down the line.
The benefits of fostering divergent thinking are myriad, especially considering that in the working world, skills are often valued over knowledge. Divergent thinking can improve language proficiency and lead to positive mood swings and greater original exploration. While people tend to associate creativity with art and emotion, research has shown that divergent thinking stems from logical, unbiased thinking.
Many exercises can be used to strengthen our capacity for divergent thinking. Here’s one:
Pick an ordinary object, like a pencil holder, paper clip or a soda can. Set a timer for 5 minutes.
Come up with as many alternative uses for that object as you can. No pressure, but if you give this exercise to young children, without a timer, they can often come up with hundreds :).
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