10 “MENTAL LOCKS” THAT CAN LIMIT INDIVIDUAL CREATIVITY

The ten mental blocks are:

1. Searching for the one right answer

The majority of educational institutions teach that there is only one "correct" solution to an issue. This is beneficial to creativity since it prevents brainstorming. The importance of achieving that "one perfect answer" was instilled in most of us as children. The fact that we were rewarded for it further reinforced our mental training.

2. Focusing on being logical

Being logical is useful for analyzing and executing ideas, but putting too much emphasis on logic in the early stages of creativity limits the use of intuition. Many of us assume that everything in nature must be consistent and non-contradictory, which is an unintentional result of the "scientific temperament." Except for the fact that much of life is unclear, there's nothing wrong with this mentality. Our intuition or hunches can often prompt us to attempt a new and more efficient problem-solving technique if we follow them.

3. Blindly following the rules

Creativity frequently relies on our capacity to defy established norms in order to discover new ways of doing things. This one mental barrier is so deeply ingrained in our culture that it entirely prevents us from thinking creatively. "This is how things work out here," has stifled a slew of brilliant ideas. Organizations, even in the corporate sector, are frequently bound by their own regulations and 'holy cows.' However, in order to unleash the boundless potential of the creative mind, you must give yourself the necessary creative freedom.

4. Constantly being practical

Suspending pragmatism for a moment allows the imagination to examine innovative alternatives that might otherwise go unnoticed. The most incredible discoveries are made 'by chance' or because someone refuses to 'fit inside a box.' Albert Einstein was the first to propose the Theory of Relativity. It came into being when he tried to imagine "what it would be like to travel at the speed of light?" in his head.

5. Viewing play as frivolous

Play provides us with the ability to reimagine reality and reformulate long-held beliefs. Only when individuals are calm and playing can they come up with the best ideas; this is because play allows us to attempt new things without fear of being penalized. There are several discoveries in history that were made when someone was having fun.

6. Becoming overly specialized

The capacity to perceive how a problem is connected to other issues is hampered when it is defined as a single area of expertise. A well-known example of the hazards of being narrowly focused on one's area of specialty is Kodak's refusal to go into digital cameras in favor of remaining tightly focused on film-based cameras, hastening their death.

7. Avoiding ambiguity

Ambiguity inspires us to "think beyond the box." Ambiguous situations challenge us to think outside of the box and investigate new possibilities we may otherwise overlook. Because of the communication issues that ambiguity may generate, most of us have learned to "avoid ambiguity." Too much precision, on the other hand, might suffocate imagination in situations that demand for it.

8. Fearing looking foolish

Conformity has no place in creative thought. In a conforming atmosphere, new ideas are rarely born. To avoid appearing ignorant, people try to conform. Society tells us to blend in, not to stick out, and to follow the crowd. Wearing a fool's cap is one technique to get out of this mental bind. Use your sense of humor, be irreverent, and think the contrary.

9. Fearing mistakes and failure

Trying anything new often results in failure; nevertheless, failure should not be viewed as a dead end; rather, it can be viewed as a pit stop on the way to success. The majority of our educational system views mistakes as something to be avoided at all costs. We can get knowledge from our mistakes. They frequently pave the way for new possibilities; don't vilify them.

10. Believing that “I’m not creative”

A person who feels they aren't creative would most likely act in the same way, confirming their opinion. Everyone has the ability to be creative; however, one must first recognize that ability. The majority of creative individuals believe they are creative. People who are less creative believe they are not creative. The intriguing thing about this is that it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you consider yourself to be creative, you'll take more chances, attempt new ways, experiment with new ideas, and give yourself permission to fail.