It's All About

Everyone is capable of innovation, most people just don't realise it! We are all born with a creative instinct, albeit at varying degrees, but with practice it is a skill that can become second nature. Unfortunately in this respect, most of us live in an environment where we don't normally "have" to think for ourselves, and so it's easy to "forget" the innovative skills that we all possess. Which is a shame, because it is a wonderful method of improving your life.

You may distantly remember learning to read ande write, or do math, or even more recently learn to drive, which, because we perform those tasks every day, we do them without even thinking about it. Well, it's the same with innovation or creativity, and you have probably "forgotten how" because you rarely utilise it. So here are some tips to help you use innovation to improve your life.

First of all, don't just follow the herd, follow your own instincts, remember, you don't want to be a sheep, you want to be the shepherd... The sheep usually ends up served on someone's table! Innovators are not neccessarily right all the time, but why should you be more wrong than anyone else? Many people are frightened or suspicious of "change" and anything other than the "norm"... Don't fall into that trap and take too too much notice of others' negativity.

Take some time to investigate the possibilities available to you, it may be something you do already in a minor way, or you may discover something entirely new. The process of exploring these ideas will invigorate you and open your mind to your potential. Another way of freeing the mind is to exercise, even if it's just a brisk walk to get the adrenalin flowing.

Do you dream? If so, and you can remember them, write them down... They can be an amazing source of inspiration.

Record your dreams. Aren't some of them just the craziest things that your conscious mind would never have thought of? If you've had these dreams before, and I'm sure have, this only shows you the untapped innovative power you have lying within. So jot down those notes. Those dreams may just create an innovative spark in you.

Try not to copy others, you are unique, and you will have your own style... So use it! By all means utilise available information, but adapt the idea to suit you. For example, if your favourite author writes fiction about horse racing... And that inspires you to to write, you could write fact about fly-fishing, if that's what you're into.

Don't make the mistake of buying all the latest power tools to build the summer-house you've always wanted... And then discover you're crap at woodwork! That is, if you want to tackle something new, see if you have a talent or are capable of achieving said project before investing too much time or money in it, otherwise it may just put you off trying new things.

You should be passionate about the endeavour you undertake... If you don't "really" want to do it, you never will. Don't go and take up basketball because you're tall, but have no interest in it... You will fail! However, that doesn't mean you can't learn how to do something you are interested in. If you have a passion for a subject, it will be much easier to learn.

Bear in mind that you can't be inspired on demand... An idea may strike you when you least expect it, so remember it, and explore it further while it's fresh in your mind, and as soon as you can make appropriate time for it. If possible write it down and come back to it later.

Hopefully, this article itself will inspire you to explore your own creativity and innovative powers. Remember the object is to satisfy "your" life improvement, not someone else's idea of it. Your increased energy and passion for your subject will soon be noticed, and then you will quickly regarded as the "shepherd" not the "sheep".