I Lack Creative Ideas

I've observed many individuals going to great lengths to unearth a single brilliant idea. They immerse themselves in videos, devour books, and heed the clichéd advice in pursuit of imagining a realm filled with unconventional, creative concepts. However, the lingering question is: why do some individuals need to exert immense effort, while others appear to possess a natural gift for innovation? Let's delve into the quest for an answer.

Photo by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography on Unsplash

While growing up, I met people who were being called ‘dumb’ or ‘stupid’ because they were not good at studies. Exams were kinda tough for them to pass. These were people who always hid their faces when questions were being asked in class.

Recently, I had a conversation with a guy who told me how he is struggling to get things done correctly. No matter how he tried, it seemed so hard for him to do. And that’s how he made a belief in his mind that he could never get it right.

When I started writing my newsletter, I had a low turnout which made me think I might quit but you can see the change now. I am writing a newsletter that everyone is looking forward to reading daily.

In fact, whenever I wish to write an article here, I don’t have to try hard to come up with a title. I just open my laptop and boom..title automatically comes up as if I already knew what I wanted to write.

Here is the question: What changed?

I want to emphasize that I don't assert that there is a singular, definitive answer to this transformation. I firmly believe that numerous factors, working together, have contributed to helping you become that creative person you have always wanted to be.

1. Take In-Take Out:

As I always tell people, I was just a quiet lad with no social media presence. However, in 2019, I started out on WhatsApp. I decided to post something beautiful on my status but that single status pushed me to post more and more.

So, it’s safe to say that in 2019, I posted my first status and to this day, I never stopped have amassed thousands of organic viewers. Also, I have read thousands of books. I take excessive pride in saying that when my others were scrolling social media, I was building something beautiful

This transformation has notably heightened my creativity. Whether you believe it or not, what you consume significantly influences what you produce.

For instance, my nutritionist told me something about eating healthy foods because I am someone who eats noodles a lot. She said: that when you eat healthy foods, your skin becomes radiant and you maintain a youthful appearance. This occurs because the quality of your consumption is reflected outwardly.

This same principle holds true for our brains. Initially, your brain, or anyone else's for that matter, is like a clean slate, much like water. When you introduce salt into the water, it becomes salty. If you add sugar, the water becomes sweet. If you add colour, the water changes its hue.

The same is true for your brain. Whatever you feed it, your brain will transform accordingly.

So, if you've been blaming a lack of innate creativity, it's time to halt that blame game. Take a moment to scrutinize your life and ask yourself what you're feeding your brain. Are you spending your time watching reels on TikTok, watching irrelevant stuff on Netflix and Youtube or are you engaging with material related to your field?

Feed your brain with good things. Don’t let your brain be a bin where you can throw any type of cheap content. Treat your brain like a luxury. Feed it with what you want to produce.

One thing that I will advise you just like I do tell my students is to read books. Read a lot of books. Books will open your heart to a lot of things and make you have a changed mentality.

2. Stop What You Consume:

There was a time when I was so addicted to social media that I had to tell my friend: I feel ashamed to say that I have been addicted to social media. She was surprised because I am someone with a lot of principles and she wondered how I got trapped. During the ASUU strike, I was taking a short break, and that break transformed into an addiction. For the first hour in the morning, I scroll feeds on Twitter. Then my eyes hurt and I abandon my phone. Then again, I open YouTube to watch movies. The cycle goes on until it’s time to sleep.

Photo by Diego Lozano on Unsplash

I can clearly discern the impact of this addiction in my work. How, you ask?

Well, for starters, the input is often of low quality—essentially, it's trash.

More importantly, the process of creating output necessitates a cessation of input. That's how the creative mechanism operates.

When you incessantly feed your brain with information, you leave no room for it to digest and process that input. It's well-established that the brain requires time to assimilate and make sense of the information it receives. Without this essential processing period, it all becomes a jumbled mess in your brain. This is why some people constantly feel fatigued, struggle to maintain focus, and find creativity to be elusive.

So, what can you do?

As I said earlier, the quality of information you feed your brain matters significantly. It's crucial not to engage in mindless consumption.

When you read a book or an article, your brain actively participates in the process. It deciphers the words, visualizes scenarios, and ultimately comprehends the meaning. This active engagement exercises your brain.

In contrast, mindless scrolling on the internet can render your brain inert and lazy, making it difficult to focus on your work.

Additionally, it's vital to allow your brain the time to digest what you've read. After finishing an article, for instance, this one, avoid immediately jumping to the next one. Take a moment to mentally summarize and process the information you've just absorbed. This pause for reflection and assimilation can greatly enhance the value of your learning.

3. Keep Practicing:

When I first embarked on writing my newsletters, it was a rather unimpressive endeavor.

So, what brought about the change?

The transformation was a result of dedicated practice. I've penned down more than 100 newsletters.

I'll keep this straightforward – creativity doesn't blossom overnight, and innovative ideas don't magically materialize after a certain threshold of practice. It's all about the process.

I can't pinpoint the exact moment when my articles improved or when writing became a source of joy for me. However, I can confidently say that I've written every single day for the past 304 days. That's pure practice.

Regardless of your field, whether it's writing or any other discipline, what you truly require is practice. If you're waiting for that elusive day when you'll be perfect, you'll find yourself waiting, perhaps even in your grave.

I speak from experience. If you were to peruse my initial articles, you'd uncover numerous grammatical errors. But did I stop? Absolutely not.

The fortunate individuals are the ones who choose to persevere in the same endeavour until the world acknowledges their luck or talent. Now, the choice is yours to make.

In conclusion, the key to enhancing your creativity and honing your skills lies in the deliberate choices you make in terms of the information you consume and the practice you commit to in your field. The process of improvement is gradual, and there's no magical shortcut to creative brilliance. It's through consistent, dedicated practice that you evolve and refine your abilities. So, if you're waiting for that perfect moment, don't. Start now, and keep at it until the world recognizes your dedication and talent. Your creative potential is within your control, waiting to be unlocked through mindful consumption and unwavering practice.

I hope this article helps you make your life interesting and happy. Just remember one thing, nothing will ever be completely perfect. One or the other area of your life will have issues. You can still choose to make life good by doing what feels good to you. One day at a time.

Until then, you can sign up for my mentorship class by clicking here