| Why is it that ideas can flow so freely sometimes and | | | | association to get ideas. Try this with several aspects |
| then be as elusive as a leaf floating down a stream? | | | | of you project/problem. Does your project have a |
| I've wondered that a lot when I was under a deadline, | | | | name? Use that name for a word association |
| either at school or more recently for my livelihood. | | | | exercise. |
| Over the years I have used a few tricks to get me | | | | If I still need more input, I'll ask myself some questions. |
| unstuck when I absolutely had to be creative at that | | | | Who is this for? What is the goal? What if I changed |
| moment with no option of waiting. The goal is to get | | | | the whole thing? What would it look like? What really |
| the mind off the track it is on...that's why you feel stuck. | | | | matters? I'll even ask myself questions like: What if I |
| Your mind is closed in on one solution, one path....as if | | | | don't get this done? At least I'll find out how important it |
| it's a horse wearing blinders. | | | | is! |
| The first order of business is to relax and know that | | | | OK, so I need a bit more help. Here's where I'll lean |
| the good ideas are just waiting to come out. Remind | | | | back in my chair, close my eyes and take a few |
| yourself that you are a creative genius. Your mind is a | | | | minutes to visualize. What am I visualizing? I'm |
| miracle and it's actually at your command. Belief is | | | | visualizing delivering the project. Why? Perhaps I will |
| important, just as it is with any successful endeavor. It's | | | | see into the future as to what the final product looks |
| also time for a state change, meaning a physical | | | | like! Remember, this is a game. Have fun and you |
| change of state. Go walk around the block. Execute | | | | might come up with something really insightful. |
| some jumping jacks. I like to play a couple good | | | | I know there's lots of good ideas flowing, but just in |
| dancing tunes and have some fun with it. Standing, | | | | case you need some more help. I can only remember |
| stretching and walking around the room may be | | | | having to do something like this once. A good idea |
| enough. | | | | usually comes in the first or second exercise. You |
| You should be in a more positive mental frame of mind | | | | want at least 6 small (maybe 3x3) pieces of paper. |
| now. You know you can come up with some ideas | | | | Take your lists you just wrote and tear them into |
| and you are even looking forward to the process. You | | | | pieces so you can still read them. Better yet, you can |
| might do a quick review of your project, not a lengthy | | | | create some more words and/or pictures. Use shapes |
| review. Flip though the plans, proposals, pictures, ad | | | | or colors to represent parts of your project. Play |
| copy, whatever. | | | | mix-n-match with these papers. Shuffle them. Drop |
| Do a small word association game: write down one | | | | them on the floor and see where they end up. You |
| word having to do with your project. For example, | | | | could even cut out relevant magazine pictures and do |
| perhaps I need to create a landscape piece for a | | | | this activity. You'll already have some great ideas, so |
| client. I'll write the word landscape at the top of the | | | | you probably won't have to go this far! |
| paper, then quickly write down words that come to | | | | Relaxing is very important. Stress tightens everything |
| my mind. I'll have a list of words about color or actual | | | | including your creativity. Relaxation helps those creative |
| places or kinds of foliage or weather, etc. You see, | | | | juices to flow. Get comfortable and enjoy the ride. |
| even though my project is visual, I use word | | | | |