Here's a deceptively simple question: if we all have the potential to be creative, why is it so hard?

Part of the problem is that so little attention is paid to the psychological research on creativity. If we can harness what scientists already know about creativity, we can propel ourselves to new heights of achievement.

Creativity isn't just for artists, we all need it—at home, in our relationships and, for many of us, at work. By one measure around 30% of workers in the US are members of the creative classes. Along with designers, writers and artists this includes professions like lawyers, business people and healthcare professionals; in fact it includes anyone who has to use an existing body of knowledge to reach creative solutions.

For many of us, then, our incomes rely on our creativity. Boost our creativity and the rewards will come.

Collected below are recent PsyBlog articles which explore how to be creative:

• Boost Creativity: 7 Unusual Psychological Techniques
• The Creative Power of Thinking Outside Yourself
• Get Creative: 7 More Psychological Techniques
• Unusual Thinking Styles Increase Creativity
• 6 Ways to Kill Creativity
• Creativity for the Cautious
• How to Promote Visionary Thinking
• Why People Secretly Fear Creative Ideas
• Duck/Rabbit Illusion Provides a Simple Test of Creativity
• The Dark Side of Creativity
• What's the Best Time of Day to be Creative?
• Five Effortless Postures that Foster Creative Thinking
• Why You Should Seek Out Unusual or Downright Weird Experiences
• The Incubation Effect: How to Break Through a Mental Block
• The Brainstorming Tweak: How to Boost Creativity in Groups
• How to Create Brand New Solutions From Old Objects and Ideas

Image credit: Faith Goble

Making Habits, Breaking Habits

In his new book, Jeremy Dean--psychologist and author of PsyBlog--looks at how habits work, why they are so hard to change, and how to break bad old cycles and develop new healthy, creative, happy habits.

→ "Making Habits, Breaking Habits", is available now on Amazon.

Reviews
The Bookseller, “Editor’s Pick,” 10/12/12 “Sensible and very readable…By far the most useful of this month’s New You offerings.”

Kirkus Reviews, 1/1/13 “Making changes does take longer than we may expect—no 30-day, 30-pounds-lighter quick fix—but by following the guidelines laid out by Dean, readers have a decent chance at establishing fulfilling, new patterns.”

Publishers Weekly, 12/10/12 “An accessible and informative guide for readers to take control of their lives.”

→ You can dip into the first chapter, or check it out on Amazon.com.