An essential part of our skill set in a dynamic world should include creativity. Not only does creativity lead to innovative thinking, it inspires effective problem solving, new strategies, and fresh ideas. Creativity enables people to adapt to most situations and make do with whatever is at hand to reach their goals.

Creativity is a central source of meaning in our lives. When we're creative, we feel we are living more fully than during the rest of life. The excitement of the artist at the easel or the scientist in the lab comes close to the ideal fulfillment we hope to get from life.

What traits do creative people possess? Would you like to strengthen the creative qualities you were born with but may have forgotten how to access?

Test your creativity

Answer "yes" or "no:" 
 

1. I'm a straightforward, uncomplicated person.
2. I like trying new things.
3. When in a group, I rarely offer suggestions.
4. I seldom think of original ways of doing tasks.
5. I like participating in intense discussions.
6. I do a job the way I was taught. 
7. I enjoy looking at all sides of a problem.
8. I often question things most people take for granted.
9. When I cook, I always follow instructions. 
10. When I read something interesting, I try to learn more about it.
11. I often have ideas about how improvements could be made at work.
12. I prefer activities I know I'll enjoy rather than those I haven't tried.

Scoring: Give yourself 1 for each "yes" to statements 2, 5, 7, 8,10 and 11; and each "no" to 1, 3, 4, 6, 9 and 12. Add your points.

9 or higher: You’re an innovator. You embrace change and use your imagination to find new ways of doing things. You’re independent, intuitive, and see many sides of a problem. 

5 to 8: You may enjoy creating in your personal life but dislike change in your work routine.  Or the opposite could be true. To enhance creativity, try suggestions below.

4 or lower: You enjoy the status quo, dislike change. If you’re happy, don’t change. If you want to release your creative potential, read on.

Tips for strengthening creativity

-- Make friends with your inner child. List things parents warned you about. Examine attitudes and beliefs you developed as a result of these teachings. Do admonitions like "Never question authority," “Boys don’t cry,” apply today? Examining long-held beliefs opens you up to new ways of seeing things.

-- Draw or "Doodle." Write a question that clearly states what you want to know. Underneath it, draw whatever flows though your hands. Use your intuitive skills to interpret the meaning and symbols in the drawing.  Note the sequence of steps and your thoughts and feelings as you study the drawing. 

-- Play mental games like "what if...." These require a willingness to think freely, so don’t close doors on ideas. Resist  thinking, "Don't be silly!" or "That's stupid." 

-- Lose yourself in an enjoyable activity. Exercise, sew, paint, sing, dance, write, start a scrapbook or photo album. Focus on the activity. 

-- Devise your own ways of freeing creativity. Relax. Give the process time. Here are suggestions:
 

• Ask your dreams for answers to a question before going to sleep.
• Meditate, journal, relax in nature. 
• Change routines, for example, write with your non-dominant hand.
• Play the devil's advocate at a business meeting.
• Take a course on a topic you've always wanted to try. 
• Play. What can you do to make work or leisure time more fun?
• Have a backwards day, beginning by having dinner for breakfast. 
• Ask a child an open-ended question, for instance, "What do you think …"
• Cook with spices you've never used. 
• Have a costume party where each guest plays the part of a character from a book, movie, the media, or other realm.