Creativity in a Box of Crayons

By Neal Burgis

Crayon your way to creativity. What do I draw, what ideas can I generate?

Think back to your childhood school days. You most likely used all the colors in the box, colored outside the lines and sometimes even added to the picture. The little extra stuff is part of your creativity. If you colored in the lines and did not add anything onto the paper, your teacher loved what you drew. On the other hand, if you drew outside the lines and since you added extra things or colored how you wanted, your teacher probably wasn’t a happy camper with you.

As an adult, it’s time to forget what you were taught in school and are ready to do things your way; it’s time to try things on your own. With a blank piece of paper in front of you and cracking open a brand new box of 64 crayons you can now stretch your creative ideas and draw what you want to without your former school classmates bothering you. No one tells you what to draw or to ask “What is that?” Show your creativity. You make the decision of what you want in your picture.

Quick: Think of five things you could do with a new box of crayons. Take notice of how you feel when thinking of these 5 things.

Opening a pack of crayons and making an idea your own helps you see things others don’t when it comes to creativity and innovation. Look around you and take pieces of information and generate ideas from what you see. It may not be possible to draw them, instead use a creative notebook and write down in detail your thoughts, ideas and opinions.

“Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor and your picture begins to lighten up.”
ALLEN KLEIN, attributed, Soul Rays: Discover the Vibratory Frequency of Your Soul

Too many adults think that you need to instantly become an adult with all the responsibilities when you reach 18 years of age. These same individuals don’t revert to childhood for any reason. If you did not get praise or recognition as a child with regard to your creative works, you typically will think you are not good at being creative or that no one likes your work. At least be creative for yourself.

This week crack open a fresh box of crayons. Stretch your creativity by getting back in touch with your inner child. Draw, sculpt, paint, or write. Challenge yourself to find something creative to do with all that colored wax. Being creative, you invent, imagine, problem-solve, create, and communicate in fresh, new ways. This is where every business requires creative thinkers to work for them.

Experimenting with crayons could lead to some new ideas for your current projects. As you might imagine, different colors activate the brain in different ways. Studies have shown that specifically green and blue have strong effects on enhancing creativity and nourishing innovative thinking. What colors work for you in the projects you create?

Now grab your crayons and go to it! Underneath it all, explore the colors. Use each colored crayon and draw something, doodle or just make lines.

“Learn to use ten minutes intelligently. It will pay you huge dividends.”

-William Irwin

About

Neal Burgis, Ph.D. is the founder and CEO of Burgis Successful Solutions, an executive coaching firm, that specializes in consulting small and mid-size companies to become creative and innovative in order to thrive beyond survival mode. We also coach employees to Overcome the Fear of Creativity and Regain Your Creative Confidence.

Neal is a National Certified Psychologist and is certified as an Executive Coach. To scheduling a complimentary coaching session with Neal, call me at 602-405-2540 or email me at: