We all have some level of creativity within us. As with other activities, you can teach yourself to be more creative. Sometimes creative thinking requires us to look at things from new perspectives.

Here is an appropriate acronym containing five steps to creative thinking -- S A E D I -- that's IDEAS backwards!

S - State of Mind.
Creativity is a state of mind. Telling yourself or others "I'm not very creative," or "I can never come up with new or clever ideas," destroys that state of mind. Creative thinking requires positive thinking.

A - Atmosphere.
All of our senses -- what we see, hear, feel, taste, and touch -- influence our state of mind. A positive atmosphere contributes to a positive and creative state of mind. Some people thrive in loud, people-filled areas with much activity. Others need quiet and calm to think clearly and creatively. Find that place, noisy or quiet, that makes you feel comfortable

E - Effective Thinking.
While positive thinking allows your mind to accept new ideas and creative thoughts, effective thinking involves directing your thoughts toward specific goals. Daydreaming, relaxation, and free association allow the mind to come up with new or unusual ideas or idea fragments.

D - Determination.
Creativity takes practice. Your creativity is there within you, but you must make a habit of using your imagination. Although many of your best ideas will come when you "aren't really concentrating," you can make them happen more often by regularly practicing effective thinking techniques.

I - Ink.
Whether you use ink, pencil lead, crayon, or a computer, write down your ideas. We retain more of what we hear or see if we write it down. That applies equally to college lectures and our own brainstorming sessions.

So start thinking and implement too.......