Creative people are able to tap into emotions, both positive and negative. This allows them to use their creativity to come up with unique and innovative solutions to problems that non-creative individuals are less likely to find. Creative people tend to have a deep connection with their emotions, which can help inspire them to create amazing art, stories, music and more. They are also more apt to take risks in their work, as they know that even if they fail they will learn something new and make their next project better than the last.
While many creatives have a playful and light attitude, this doesn’t mean that they are not serious about their craft or that they do not take it seriously. Despite the carefree air they often have, they are hard workers who are not afraid to put in long hours or persist when others would give up. For example, Renaissance painter Paolo Uccello was obsessed with perfecting his understanding of visual perspective, working late into the night while others went to bed.
Creativity is a process that involves many different brain networks that are usually at odds with each other. However, creative individuals are able to exercise flexibility in activating and deactivating these brain networks. As a result, they are able to alternate between imagination and fantasy, as well as being able to think both analytically and irrationally. This is why they are able to be smart and naive at the same time, and also to embrace both their rebellious side as well as their traditional and conservative side – a kind of psychic androgyny.
In contrast, non-creative individuals rely heavily on the facts and logic when solving problems. This can limit their creativity because they are unlikely to think of creative solutions outside the box.
To test this theory, scientists scanned the brains of 27 creative professionals (including writers, musicians and visual artists) and a control group of doctors, lawyers and financial service professionals. The results showed that the creative groups were able to activate the part of their brains that deals with distant thinking, whereas the control group did not. The study suggests that this may be because those with a creative mindset are able to imagine how things could be, while those without creativity are less capable of doing so. This is why it’s important to be able to balance both sides of your personality when you are creating. It will allow you to be more effective in both your creative endeavors as well as your day-to-day life.