Creative people often don’t fit in with the social norms. That’s why they’re called a bit “abnormal.” Some researchers believe that a set of personality traits is associated with creativity. These include openness to experience, extraversion, high energy, and inspiration.
Creativity involves solving problems. It is also about making something new — and the most innovative people are able to think outside of the box, to find solutions that nobody else has thought of. Creative people are more likely to solve problems in unusual ways, such as by using unconventional materials or repurposing existing ones. They often look for the “hidden potential” in old objects, such as using a bicycle to transport tools or turning paper into a guitar.
Many artists, musicians, and writers are considered creative. However, just because you are creative doesn’t mean that you are a genius or that you can do anything you want. Many artists, writers, and musicians struggle to make a living from their work. Some even quit their job to pursue their passion.
If you’re a creative, you may have a tendency to daydream, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you live with your head in the clouds. Instead, you’re able to translate your imaginative ideas into practical solutions. You can immerse yourself in fantasy and imagination, yet still find a way to turn your dreams into reality.
Some creatives have a high level of sensitivity. This opens them up to a wide variety of emotional experiences, from extreme joy to intense pain. This sensitivity also means that creatives can feel hurt by things other people say and do. For example, a badly designed machine will hurt an inventive engineer, and a piece of writing that’s uninspired will hurt a writer.
Creatives are often able to sense patterns that others cannot. This is because they’re able to look at a situation from multiple perspectives and notice details that other people miss. This makes them great problem solvers, but it can also lead to a lot of frustration and anger when other people don’t understand their vision or how they’re coming up with solutions.
Another common trait is an interest in disorder, contradiction, and imbalance. This may be because creatives are challenged by asymmetry and chaos, or because they’re more comfortable with uncertainty. In any case, this can be a source of interesting inspiration for their work.
Finally, creativity requires a certain amount of freedom from societal rules and expectations. Creatives can have a tendency to break the rules, but they also need to know when and how to do it. This freedom is what allows them to create their own path and follow their heart, but it can be difficult for them when they’re surrounded by systems that don’t meet their needs. Creatives often express this dissatisfaction in a variety of different ways. These reactions can be wildly misunderstood, but they’re usually based on real needs that aren’t met in current social structures.