How Creativity Works, & How to Do It

Creativity is often seen as a mysterious, elusive force, a spark of inspiration that strikes out of nowhere. Yet, creativity is not purely a product of chance or innate talent. It’s a process that can be understood, nurtured, and refined. Whether you’re a writer, artist, entrepreneur, or problem-solver, knowing how creativity works and how to harness it can significantly enhance your ability to generate new ideas and solutions.

In this article, we’ll explore the mechanics of creativity—how it happens in the brain, what factors influence it, and how you can cultivate it in your everyday life.

What is Creativity?

Creativity is the ability to generate ideas, solutions, or expressions that are both original and valuable. It involves thinking in ways that break from conventional patterns, combining seemingly unrelated concepts, or reimagining familiar things in new ways. Creativity spans across various fields—from the arts to science and technology—and plays a critical role in innovation, problem-solving, and personal expression.

One common misconception about creativity is that it’s solely the domain of “creative” professions like writing or painting. In reality, creativity is integral to nearly every human endeavor. Engineers designing new software, marketers developing campaigns, scientists exploring new hypotheses—each of these tasks requires creative thinking.

How Creativity Works in the Brain

Creativity is a highly complex mental process involving multiple regions of the brain. While no single area of the brain is solely responsible for creativity, certain networks play key roles in creative thought.

1. The Default Mode Network (DMN)

The DMN is activated during moments of rest and reflection, particularly when you’re not focused on external tasks. It’s the network responsible for daydreaming, self-reflection, and envisioning future scenarios. The DMN allows the mind to wander and explore different ideas, often forming unexpected connections between unrelated concepts.

2. The Executive Control Network (ECN)

While the DMN allows for free-flowing thought, the ECN steps in when focused attention and decision-making are needed. This network helps refine and organize ideas generated by the DMN, enabling you to evaluate and implement them effectively. For instance, once a creative idea emerges, the ECN assesses its practicality and how it can be executed.

3. The Salience Network

The salience network plays a role in determining which thoughts, ideas, or external stimuli are worth focusing on. It switches between the DMN and ECN, helping the brain prioritize the most promising ideas and shift between divergent (exploratory) and convergent (focused) thinking. This balance is key to creativity, as it allows you to brainstorm freely but also narrow down your ideas to workable solutions.

The Stages of Creativity

Creativity often unfolds in stages, and understanding these stages can help you navigate the process more effectively. While there are various models, one of the most well-known frameworks is the four-stage model proposed by psychologist Graham Wallas.

1. Preparation

The creative process begins with preparation—immersing yourself in information, gathering knowledge, and exploring the problem or topic you want to address. This is where you lay the groundwork for creative insights. Researching, brainstorming, and exposing yourself to diverse ideas are key activities during this phase.

The preparation stage is crucial because creativity doesn’t happen in a vacuum. The more information you gather and the deeper your understanding of the topic, the more raw material your brain has to work with.

2. Incubation

During the incubation phase, your mind works on the problem in the background, often without you consciously realizing it. You might step away from the task, engage in other activities, or even sleep on it. This period of subconscious processing allows the brain to make connections between the ideas and information you gathered during the preparation stage.

Incubation is why many creative breakthroughs happen when you’re not actively working—while you’re taking a walk, in the shower, or lying in bed. The brain is quietly solving problems behind the scenes.

3. Illumination

Illumination is the “aha!” moment when a creative idea suddenly becomes clear. It’s the point where the pieces come together, and you experience a breakthrough or sudden clarity on how to solve a problem or approach a project. This moment can feel spontaneous, but it’s often the result of the preparation and incubation phases working together.

While illumination can feel like magic, it’s typically the product of time and effort spent exploring, questioning, and thinking creatively.

4. Verification

The final stage is verification, where you evaluate, refine, and implement your idea. This is when you assess whether the creative insight is practical and useful, and you work on shaping it into a final product or solution. Often, this stage involves critical thinking and collaboration, as ideas are tested, revised, and perfected.

How to Cultivate Creativity

While some people seem naturally more creative than others, creativity can be cultivated and strengthened with practice. Here are several strategies to help you foster creativity in your everyday life:

1. Embrace Curiosity and Exploration

Creativity often starts with curiosity—the desire to learn more, ask questions, and explore new ideas. Make a habit of seeking out new experiences, reading widely, and exposing yourself to diverse perspectives. Whether it’s learning a new skill, diving into a topic outside your comfort zone, or traveling to unfamiliar places, new experiences can spark fresh ideas.

2. Engage in Divergent Thinking

Divergent thinking is the ability to generate many different ideas or solutions for a single problem. This kind of thinking encourages free-flowing creativity without worrying about whether the ideas are “right” or “wrong.” Brainstorming sessions, mind mapping, or journaling can help you practice divergent thinking. The goal is to explore as many possibilities as you can without self-censorship.

3. Take Breaks and Let Your Mind Wander

Creativity often flourishes when the mind is at rest. After intense focus or problem-solving, take breaks to allow your brain to incubate ideas. Activities like walking, meditating, or simply daydreaming can create mental space for new connections to form. Remember, some of the best ideas come when you step away from the task at hand.

4. Collaborate with Others

Creative breakthroughs can happen when different perspectives come together. Collaborating with others allows you to tap into different skills, knowledge bases, and viewpoints. Whether through group brainstorming sessions, partnerships, or feedback loops, engaging with others can push you to think in new ways and refine your ideas.

5. Experiment and Take Risks

Creativity involves risk-taking and a willingness to experiment with ideas that may not immediately seem viable. Instead of seeking perfection from the start, embrace a mindset of experimentation. Give yourself permission to fail, learn from mistakes, and iterate on your ideas. Often, creativity thrives in environments that encourage trial and error.

6. Use Constraints to Spark Creativity

While creativity is often associated with limitless possibilities, working within constraints can actually enhance creative thinking. Limitations—such as time, resources, or specific goals—force you to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. These constraints can serve as a springboard for creativity, pushing you to find novel ways to work within the boundaries you’re given.

7. Practice Mindfulness and Reflection

Creativity benefits from self-awareness and mindfulness. By practicing mindfulness, you can become more attuned to your thoughts and mental processes, allowing you to better recognize when new ideas are forming. Regular reflection on your creative process—what works, what doesn’t, and how you approach challenges—can help you refine your approach and improve over time.

Overcoming Creative Blocks

Even the most creative minds experience blocks from time to time. When creativity seems to dry up, it’s important to recognize that blocks are a normal part of the process. Here are some strategies for overcoming creative blocks:

• Change Your Environment: A change of scenery can offer fresh perspectives and new stimuli that may reignite your creativity.
• Break the Task into Smaller Steps: Large, complex tasks can feel overwhelming and stifle creativity. Break them down into manageable steps to make progress without feeling stuck.
• Try a New Medium or Approach: If you’re feeling stuck, try a different approach or medium. If you’re a writer, try drawing. If you’re an artist, explore photography or collage. Switching creative modes can spark new ideas.
• Seek Inspiration from Others: Look to the work of others for inspiration—whether through books, art, or conversations. Seeing how others solve problems creatively can help you find your own way forward.
• Be Patient: Creativity is a process, and sometimes it takes time to break through a block. Give yourself space, be patient, and trust that the ideas will come.

Creativity as a Lifelong Practice

Creativity is not a talent that some have and others don’t. It’s a skill that can be developed and nurtured over time. By understanding how creativity works in the brain and applying strategies to cultivate it, anyone can become more creative. The key is to view creativity as a practice—a continuous process of exploration, experimentation, and growth.

Whether you’re solving problems, expressing yourself artistically, or innovating in your field, creativity is an invaluable tool. By embracing curiosity, taking risks, and giving your mind the space it needs to wander and reflect, you can unlock the power of creativity in your life.