Learned Optimism and Creativity

Does it help to be an optimist if you want to be creative? I think the answer is yes because your attitude will determine how creative you are and whether you think you can come up with new ideas. When someone asks if you’re creative do you think the following?

• I’m just not a creative person.
• I’ll never learn how to come up with new ideas, besides I don’t think you can teach people creativity.
• You’re either creative or your not, and most people aren’t.

In studies on depression it was found that those most likely to be depressed made negative comments that were permanent, pervasive and personal. The above three all fit the bill. People who talk to themselves this way are less likely to try, and as a result never improve their performance. So to be an optimist you need to understand you can control the situation and that the following is true:

• You are creative, you just need to know how to unlock your potential.
• You can learn creativity skills, and most people pick these up easily and can apply them quickly.
• Everyone is creative in some way, it is just where you put your focus!

Make sure you stop yourself if you are talking in the first way, and correct yourself to talk the second way. Imagine if a company made sure it always addressed its problem with an optimist's mind set. The profit would probably roll in on the back of a wave of creativity and innovation.