As far as creativity goes, this may be very misleading because this skill cannot be taught or studied as one would study math or history.
It is something innate in all of us, which by nature has to be nurtured through imagination, curiosity, and avidness for the breaking of convention.
Creativity: Everyone Is a Creative Person
The idea that "creative" people are different from others is a myth. Each and every one of us is a creative person in his own way. Creativity is, in fact, one of the base ingredients that make us human-with the arts, problem-solving, storytelling, or even in the way we organize life. This is not restricted to artists, musicians, or designers but happens with everyday living, in our thinking, innovating, and expressing ourselves.
Formal education may have been lacking in some of the most genius minds in history to give their mark in their respective fields. From self-taught artists such as Frida Kahlo to inventors like Thomas Edison, creativity comes not from studying a proscribed set of rules but rather from passion and a will to persevere and think out of the box.
The Limiting Nature of Formal Education on Creativity
While education can be important for teaching critical thinking, along with lending knowledge, it can also be limiting to creativity. Formal education places an emphasis on learning established methods and following standardized processes. A structure beneficial for certain subjects suppresses those kinds of free-thinking that fuel creativity. In the classroom, students are conventionally requested to follow directions, meet specific criteria, and reach "correct" answers. Creativity, on the other hand, is cultivated in settings where there are no correct or incorrect answers. It has something to do with discovering new ways of doing things, taking risks, and accepting uncertainty. As time progresses, the weight of adhering to a type of thinking that demands sameness inhibits students from using their imaginations, growing more fearful of getting things "right" instead of trying on new possibilities.
That does not necessarily mean that education inherently damages creativity. The knowledge base learned through education can certainly be inspiring for creative ideas. However, creativity requires one to exit the structured learning environment and let their imagination run freely and do its interconnections and find new viewpoints.
Self-Taught Creativity is Valuable.
So many of the most creative people in the world are self-taught. These people didn't wait for permission or credentials to pursue their creative interests. Rather, they simply followed their passions, learned through trial and error, and allowed their natural curiosity to lead the way in life.
Take Steve Jobs, for instance, who dropped out from college and then rewired the tech world. In fact, this man was not formally educated in design or engineering, yet his ingenuity and dreamer-like mind managed to turn the use of technology upside down. He combined two apparently completely unrelated fields: he took calligraphy and Zen Buddhism to create the design framework for Apple's products.
Another example is Vincent van Gogh, perhaps the most renowned of all painters. Van Gogh had less than a minimal amount of formal art training and, during his lifetime, was barely acknowledged as an artist. His special style and intensity in his works have captured art history and changed its course. This has little to do with whether he did or did not study art, but rather because he felt an intense, personal connection with what he painted and continued to experiment with color and style.
These examples show very clearly that creativity cannot be confined to the realm of formal education or conventional pedagogies. Rather, it can emerge from a place of passion, personal inquiry, and risk.
The Unconventional Spaces Are Places for Creativity.
One of the most exciting aspects about creativity is that it may occur at any place and at any time. You needn't necessarily be in a classroom, a college, or even in possession of any particular skill to fulfill your creative potential. In fact, creativity often occurs in very unusual settings.
Some find that traveling-the getting out of routine and experiencing diverse cultures and settings-inspires their creativity. Others derive it from periods of quiet contemplation, journaling, or simply enabling themselves to take the time to daydream. And for some, nature can indeed be a strong source of inspiration: its endless shapes, colors, and patterns always push us to go beyond what we know.
It can even strike at the most unlikely of places, within a corporate setting. Whether it means brainstorming creative solutions to business problems or finding ways to connect with customers, creative thinking is really what sets successful companies apart from their less fortunate competitors. And it's not only the "creatives" in marketing or design that come up with brilliant ideas-creativity can stem from every single person in the organization, from engineers to accountants.
The freedom to explore and experiment allows you to unlock your creativity. That means no fear of failure or judgment, but simply a process of discovery. Creativity is messy, it's unpredictable, and more often than not, involves the making of mistakes. But it is through mistakes that we learn, grow, and come up with new ideas.
How to Foster Creativity Without Studying.
How would you then develop that in everyday life if a person needn't study to be creative?
Following are some of the easy ways to cultivate creativity:
Basically, creativity is all about curiosity. Ask questions. Try new experiences. Never stop learning. The more curious you get, the more ideas and inspiration you have to work with.
Take Risks:
Not being scared of trying new things, even when they might seem very unconventional. Creativity often means finding yourself out of your comfort zone and taking risks. You might fail, but you will learn a lesson or two down the way.
Make Time for Creativity:
Give yourself time each day to be creative; write, draw, brainstorm, or even daydream.
The more frequently you apply your creativity, the easier it will come and more natural it will be. Surround Yourself with Inspiration: Whether through books, art, music, or people who inspire a different line of thought in your mind, surround yourself with things that inspire you. After all, inspiration may come from any corner; just remain open-minded and ever welcoming for new ideas.
Break the Rules:
Creativity is all about breaking the mold, thinking out of the box, not being afraid to challenge conventions and question status quo.
That's where some of the greatest creative breakthroughs come from-those who dared to do things differently.
Creativity Belongs to Everyone.
You don't have to go to school to be creative because creativity is inside of you. It's just natural and inbred into all of us humans, if we just open up to it. You can develop your creativity by embracing curiosity, taking risks, and giving yourself the permission to explore new ideas without needing a formal education.
Whether you are a budding artist, an entrepreneur in disguise, or just someone who wishes to live a more creative life, remember that the arts are not skills to be learned but an instinct to be flourished. And the more you trust in your creative instincts, the more they will guide you toward new and exciting possibilities.