| This is the Strength of the Day series. The purpose | | | | thoughts going! |
| is to give you ideas of how you can use each of the | | | | - Enjoy the Arts: Spend more time enjoying arts that |
| 24 character strengths. Use this strength throughout | | | | you find inspiring. Whether it's listening to music, |
| the day at least 5 times. At the end of the day, | | | | admiring art, watching movies, or reading books or |
| think about how it felt. Do you already use this | | | | poetry. Make sure to choose something inspiring that |
| strength often? Then it is probably one of your top | | | | will help expand your mind in new ways. |
| strengths. Do you rarely use this strength? If it made | | | | - Do Artistic Activities: Do you have any hobbies, |
| you feel good, maybe you want to continue using it | | | | ideas for new projects, or is there something you'd |
| more! If it was not your cup of tea, choose other | | | | like to learn? Maybe it's playing the guitar, art lessons, |
| strengths to focus on. | | | | creating a picture album, or building something for |
| - Creativity [originality, ingenuity]: Thinking of novel | | | | your home. Try to bring more of these types of |
| and productive ways to do things; includes artistic | | | | activities into your life. |
| achievement but is not limited to it. | | | | - Be Open to Ideas and Suggestions: Listen to other |
| How to Increase Your Creativity | | | | people's ideas and opinions. If you're not naturally |
| - Meditation: Research has shown that if you | | | | creative, you can get ideas of how to think outside |
| meditate regularly, it can alter the brain in positive | | | | the box by paying attention to how others think and |
| ways. Additionally, it increases self-awareness and can | | | | reason. Don't jump to conclusions, shoot down ideas, |
| thus open up your mind to new thoughts and ideas. | | | | or discount anything. Try to see where they're |
| You can sign up for a meditation class or try it on | | | | coming from and ask questions to help them expand |
| your own. There are lots of books and resources on | | | | on their thoughts. This will also help you understand |
| the internet that can guide you through step-by-step. | | | | them better. |
| - Relaxation: Take time every day to relax in a quiet | | | | - Break Your Routine: Take simple tasks and do |
| environment. No TV, music, cell phone, internet, or | | | | them in a different way. Try brushing your teeth |
| any other distractions. Even if it is only five minutes, | | | | with your left hand, drive a different way than your |
| stop and do nothing. Let your thoughts wonder, pick | | | | typical route, don't follow the recipe verbatim. Who |
| something to think about that you enjoy, do deep | | | | knows what you'll learn or find out! |
| breathing, or progressive relaxation exercises. Giving | | | | Please comment to add other ideas for using this |
| your brain a rest from daily tasks and routines will | | | | strength! |
| allow you to become more thoughtful and creative. | | | | Your coach, |
| - Environment: Is your workplace or home drab and | | | | Tanya |
| depressing? Spruce it up to create an inspiring, | | | | References: |
| comfortable environment rather than one that's | | | | Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2004). |
| stressful or boring. Decorate with paint, pictures, | | | | Strengths of character and well being. Journal of |
| plants, curtains, or other artwork. Put out puzzles, | | | | Social and Clinical Psychology, 23 (5), 603-619. |
| interesting coffee table books, or other inspiring | | | | Rener, P. B. (2009, November/December) Meditation |
| knickknacks to facilitate abstract thought and | | | | on demand: New research reveals the cell |
| conversation. The act of decorating and thinking | | | | mechanisms underlying a meditative state. Scientific |
| about how to decorate will get your creative | | | | American Mind, 20, 65-67. |