Authenticity and Creativity

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We often think creativity begins with talent or inspiration, but it usually begins with honesty.
When we become more authentic, we stop creating from a place of performance and start creating from a place of truth. We’re no longer trying to impress or protect an image. We’re simply following what interests us.

That shift matters. Authenticity makes risk feel less threatening because failure no longer defines who we are. We become more willing to step outside our comfort zone, try something new, and learn from the result. Curiosity opens up. Ideas come more freely. The creative process becomes less about getting it right and more about discovering what’s possible.

Creativity grows when we’re willing to stretch ourselves, challenge assumptions, and persist through uncertainty. And authenticity is what gives us the confidence to take that first step.

Open-Mindness Leads to Creativity

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Where do those new thoughts come from, and how did they get in your head? Sometimes you find these new thoughts as a result of a search but sometimes they seem to pop into your head.

The point of a search is to find something new and unique. Motivation is the process that initiates and guides the search. Reading is an excellent way to search for new thoughts.

Inspiration is a feeling of enthusiasm from someone or something that gives you new and creative ideas. Inspiration lets you know you have found what you need in your search.

Inspiration is helpful for creative projects and helps us find motivation and focus daily. An inspiring source allows you to stay energized and productive throughout the day. Learn how to discover and maintain your sources of inspiration through open-mindedness.

It takes an open mind to be receptive to inspiration and creative focus.

Toys Can Help Teach Creativity →

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You can develop creativity by experimenting, exploring, questioning assumptions, using imagination, and processing information. Creativity is similar to learning a sport; it requires practice and a supportive environment to thrive.

For infants and young children, the brain's elasticity and rapid neural formation make learning languages and developing creative ideas easier. Elasticity is the brain's capability to re-route or re-wire to enhance thinking. Some individuals possess a "Creative Eye," which means that when they see something, they are motivated to create a version of it or think of how to use it.

Toys are often used to replicate real-life events.

Creativity can be taught, and toys can greatly aid young children. For instance, consider an 8-year-old boy who receives a small Lionel train set. Do they associate their thoughts about the train set with the actual trains in the countryside or on road trips with their parents? Do they envision a train station, bridges, tunnels, and terrain that could be built around the train tracks? Do they have relatives or neighbors who may have worked on trains and could give input on the new Lionel train set layout? The right gifts and toys can open doors to creativity, but is more required to mentor a young child to think of options and come up with ideas?

Understanding the broader purposes of toys can make a difference in working with children. Is it such a big step from creating a train station as a youngster to understanding graphic design and layout? Sometimes, lifelong passions such as trains come from commitments made by mentors.