A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
In this first of a 2 part blog on steps we all can take to awaken our creativity I want to share some of the simple techniques that I have learned work best for me.
It’s interesting to note that expanding your mind doesn’t mean your skull is going to become larger or that your brain is going to grow. What happens is our brain becomes denser with neuronal connections, which facilitates both more memory and speed of retrieval.
5. Music.
Music increases our sensitivity, as well as fosters a sense of emotional intelligence. If you’ve ever listened to opera in language that you don’t understand, you will be pleasantly surprised that you will not only know what’s going on, but be able to feel the emotions of the performance.
4. Poetry.
Poetry can foster creativity as you paint a vivid image with your words. It’s also a great way to exercise your memory, by recollecting interesting words, as well as memorizing poems to always have with you.
3. Meditate.
Meditation has an excellent way of expanding your mind from the subconscious level. It has it’s ways of digging through your mind, and bringing forth important, and oftentimes emotionally charged memories into your conscious mind.
2. Learn a language.
Learning a new language can be challenging, engaging and fun. Not only will you have to push the mental capacity to put together your newly learned words and phrases, but you will also have the opportunity to think in a different language.
1. Question Everything.
The Number One Way To Expand Your Mind Is Through Questioning Everything. It’s certainly much easier to accept information that comes to us, instead of questioning it and being susceptible to having to think. Have you ever wondered why a flower is a certain color, why someone said they like us, where someone got a percentage from (73% of all percentages are made up), or why a certain Presidential candidate is REALLY worth our vote?
As is usually the case, asking ourselves questions, leads to more questions, and then some more. Sometimes we do get reasonable answers, but it’s important to note that the mere act of asking expands our minds and allows us to try on an infinite number of paradigms.
A new question, brings a new outlook, which potentially changes everything we know about the world.
