10 Powerful Ways to Foster Creativity and Build Resilience in Challenging Times

Creativity Vs. Problem Solving

Whatever we think of Covid 19 and our forced isolation situation now, in a few years, we might be looking at it as an important period of growth and transformation in our lives.

How else can we explain our adapting daily to the fast pace of situations and challenges that are evolving around us?

Marcus Arelius, a Stoic philosopher, famously said, “Obstacle is the way.” And that’s true of how we’re living our lives in these uncertain times now. When schools had shut down, we started learning online, when it became too risky to go into work, we converted our living rooms into offices and when gyms closed, we started jogging in place outside on our decks.

We’ve gotten really creative in the way we spend our time. Our Saturdays are no longer for binge eating at parties, but to show case our mediocre dancing skills on TikTok in the hopes of becoming viral. Boredom, be damned, some of us who were not even walking to our mailboxes have now started hiking 4 miles over the weekends.

Problems Predate Our Society

Almost all situations we perceive as problems are global and mostly built on ideas of uncertainty and anticipation fueled by our wild imagination of a fictional reality. What if Covid is never going to go away? Is Covid real or a man-made calamity?

But, let’s take a step back, even before Covid, we had problems in our world. Generations after generations we have been fighting inequality, racism, bigotry, political corruption, climate change, threat of nuclear wars, etc.. The list is unending.

Some problems are self-inflicted and really personal like our struggles with our cravings and our distraction addiction with technology and social media.

–

Maker Space Mindset

–

Attitude Matters In Times Of Uncertainty

Whatever might be the problem, here are some cold hard facts. The world will always keep changing and we will always have problems. That’s the only constant in our lives. Then why not think solutions and not worry about problems. Why not think of the next steps ahead of us instead of mulling over the persistent condition?

Let’s start with thinking of ourselves as problem solvers. That’s an empowering thought. Now, let’s internalize this. “I’m down for anything. That’s just easy instead of fighting everything.” When faced with an adversity, challenge or catastrophic situation, thinking of what we can do instead of what could have been is going to be imperative.

Empowering Ourselves To Face Problems

Here are a few practical tips on how to stay on the journey of empowering ourselves, never losing faith and finding solutions.

• Get a perspective. Everyone thinks their problems are the end of the world.
• Recognize your strengths and weaknesses. First self-evaluate.
• Evaluate what you want for yourself vs. what’s best for you and your loved ones.
• Identify priorities about what battles you want to pick.
• Think long term benefits even if it means short term blindness towards unfortunate infractions. Think big picture.
• Reach out to others who’re in the same boat.
• Have faith in the fact that it will all work out in the end. Aren’t you grateful for generally a lot of things in your life turned out to be?
• Encourage yourself to partner with others to work towards a common future.

– 0 –