Two weeks ago we started a journey down our lives – reviewing the ingredients we are putting in – to make sure we’re getting what we want out of life. We first looked at People. And now thinking about the next item to look at, it is clear to me what’s next: creativity.

“Every act of creation is first an act of destruction.” – Pablo Picasso

Do you think of yourself as a creative person?

I hope you all at least … in the very least … shook your head a least a little bit in the “yes” direction. Because I have a new flash for you: YOU ARE! You are absolutely positively a creative person. Sometimes that creativeness gets lost in reports and presentations and meetings and notes and making dinner and sleeping. But just look at all those tasks I just mentioned.

You can be creative with all those tasks. Create your next report in a video format. Do a presentation from the opposite side of the board room (and see everyone freak out!). Run a meeting at a coffee shop. Make dinner with new ingredients. And holy cow … sleep on the other side of the bed! I understand sometimes that getting your creative juices flowing can be a tough, and sometimes painful process.

So, how are you doing? When was the last time you were or felt creative? Been awhile … ?

Here are a few tips to get you going again

Eliminate rules. Go out and buy some crayons and see what happens! Seriously … try it.

Go back to your roots. What creative activity did you love as a kid? Painting? Claymation? Legos? Pick one and get to it!

Change the scenery. Get out of the office and your typical setting and experience something completely new.

As Picasso said, before you can create, you have to destroy. You must destroy the barriers you’ve built and that are built around you. Creativity is nothing to be afraid of.

(flickr photo via Lexnger)