Creativity Is Not Only About The Left Brain, Here’s Why

What do you recall hearing about the right and left brain? Did you learn that the right brain is all about logic and reason, and the left side is all about creativity?

As most of us think, the brain is made up of two parts, the left side being connected to analysis, and the right side being connected to creativity. Well, scientists are here to tell us different. There are actually a complex set of reasons as to why some people are more creative. Scientific evidence tells us that creativity is triggered in many different areas of the brain.

Do you want to be more creative? Here are reasons why you can be! It isn’t just about what you were born with.

It’s Not Just About IQ

When we think about the people with the best ideas we often think of the geniuses – the Albert Einstein’s, the Amelia Earhart’s, the Picasso’s, and the Jane Austen’s. We think of the utmost masters of the craft. However, the realm of creativity falls under an enormous umbrella. Being intelligent actually has far less of an impact on creativity than people think. Contrary to popular belief, it is not down to our IQ levels when it comes to sparking creative thought – at least not as much as we were probably led to believe.

Creativity is Made Up of Many Factors

Creativity is actually due a to a whole range of factors, including emotional characteristics, your personal morals, your levels of motivation, as well as where you stand intellectually. It isn’t IQ that is the common denominator between creative minds, but in fact a general sameness in certain character traits. These include how open they are to their inner selves, their high level of tolerance regarding chaos and disarray in their surrounding areas, their ability to be in such chaos and not only function within it, but also find a way to organize and structure it. Creative types are genuine risk-takers who thrive on individuality and independence. They are masters of the unconventional. They prefer to discover. They enjoy ambiguity. They thrive on uncertainty, for it is there that they can search for answers, or maybe even make an answer of their own.

It is a mixing pot of traits perhaps, but within this lies a bundle of oxymoronic characteristics, and possibly the reason why the brain is healthy when we exercise creativity. Creative personalities are both constructive and deconstructive. They find use in being both cultured and primal. They are sane, but they are also crazy!

The Whole Creative Brain

It seems that creative types are much more introspective about their inner selves. When they tap into creativity (or when anyone sits down to take part in a creative task) they are using many different parts of the brain as a whole, not just the right or left side. Although creative types seem to be (and probably describe themselves) as an “individual”, they are actually better described as a “multitude”. They are complex because of the different parts of the mind they tap into when exploring their inner selves.

A Healthy Imagination Means A Healthy Mind

It is very important to keep using your imagination and let your mind wander into daydream, so that these parts of the brain are being engaged. The brain is an interplay of different triggers when we are creative. It is a processing system that is activated in the inside surface of the brain, engaging the temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes.

Our imagination (or our “imaginative network” in our brains) allows us to recall things easier, understand stories, have compassion for others, reflect on life, and better understand emotions that people have. Our imaginative network operates in conjunction with other brain networks, so it’s integral that we keep it as active as possible.

So, spend time with children and draw with their crayons right alongside them! It will quite literally open up your mind.

Featured photo credit: Vulcan Post via az598155.vo.msecnd.net

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